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Genetics
Neanderthals carried genes acquired from ancient interactions with ‘cousins’ of modern humans
Neanderthals carried genes acquired from ancient interactions with ‘cousins’ of modern humans
A new collaborative study led by Sarah Tishkoff shows that Neanderthals inherited at least 6% of their genome from a now-extinct lineage of early modern humans.
An unsolved mystery: Why are we sleepy when sick?
An unsolved mystery: Why are we sleepy when sick?
David Raizen, a professor of neurology, alongside PURM student Hina Sako, spent the summer moving forward research examining how sickness affects sleep.
Genetic switch turns tumor suppressor into oncogene in colorectal cancer
Genetic switch turns tumor suppressor into oncogene in colorectal cancer
Researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine have shown that an enzyme that suppresses early-stage colorectal cancer switches to become an oncogene as the cancer progresses.
‘In vivo’ RNA-based gene editing model for blood disorders developed
‘In vivo’ RNA-based gene editing model for blood disorders developed
Researchers from Penn Medicine and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia show that gene editing tools can be delivered via lipid nanoparticles, which would reduce cost and increase access to cutting-edge gene therapies.
Katalin Susztak hunts for a cure for kidney disease
Katalin Susztak hunts for a cure for kidney disease
Throughout her career, the professor of internal medicine, nephrology, and genetics has had a profound impact on the way kidney disease is identified, prevented, and managed.
A better understanding into how genes make us prone to allergies
A better understanding into how genes make us prone to allergies
Slight alterations in the ETS1 protein level can lead to allergic inflammation.
Three things to know about BRCA mutations in men
Three things to know about BRCA mutations in men
Kara Maxwell, director of the Men & BRCA Program at the Basser Center, is bridging the knowledge gap about how BRCA mutations affect men.
Improved gene editing method could power future cell and gene therapies
Improved gene editing method could power future cell and gene therapies
A new technique based on special cell-penetrating peptides promises advantages over current methods for editing the genomes of primary cells, such as patients’ T cells.
Four from Penn awarded Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research
Four from Penn awarded Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research
Faculty from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine were honored at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting in New Orleans.
Biological test detects Parkinson’s disease before symptoms present
Biological test detects Parkinson’s disease before symptoms present
Penn Medicine research shows this test can detect a build-up of abnormal protein deposits linked to Parkinson’s disease in cerebrospinal fluid.
In the News
Philadelphia Inquirer
More than 260,000 Penn Medicine patients have agreed to share their DNA for research, and the discoveries are just getting started
More than 260,000 people have signed up to participate in Penn Medicine BioBank, co-directed by Marilyn Ritchie and Dan Rader, which cross-references DNA with electronic health records to discover genetic variants of medical conditions.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Jim Wilson has two new promising gene therapy studies, but says investment in the cutting-edge field has ‘gotten worse’
Jim Wilson of the Perelman School of Medicine has published two new studies supporting the promise of cutting-edge gene therapy, finding evidence that the genetic treatments can be beneficial for years without raising the risk of cancer.
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Smithsonian Magazine
Famed 5,300-year-old Alps Iceman was a balding middle-aged man with dark skin and eyes
Iain Mathieson of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the Iceman genome was one of the first ancient human genomes ever published.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Philly gene therapy companies tap into city’s workforce training program for lab techs
Penn Medicine is noted for spearheading gene therapy for cancer treatment, being the first in the nation to use a gene editing tool to combat cancer in 2019.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
These eight diseases are so rare that drug firms haven’t tried treating them with gene therapy. A $97 million program aims to help
Gene therapy for a rare form of blindness will be tested at Penn Medicine while gene therapy for a condition that causes skeletal deformities and seizures will be tested at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
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National Geographic
Could eating like our ancestors make us healthier?
PIK Professor Sarah Tishkoff says that humans have continued to evolve since the Paleolithic period.
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