Genomics

The mystery behind cleft palate and lips

New research identifies 100 new risk genes that could lead to the development of cleft lip and palate, combining molecular findings with genome data to find that many of the genes that are highly associated with clefting are located near the enhancer regions that work with a specific protein.

Penn Today Staff



In the News


National Geographic

COVID-19 is more widespread in animals than we thought

Frederic Bushman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that many mammalian ACE-2 receptors are proving susceptible to COVID, even if they aren’t a perfect match.

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Nature

Bubonic plague left lingering scars on the human genome

Ziyue Gao of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on the innovative promise of the University of Chicago’s work uncovering the Black Death’s effect on human genetics.

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Science

What now for human genome editing?

The Perelman School of Medicine’s James Wilson discussed possible venues for the scientific oversight of controversial research. The FDA could be a good option, he suggested, but the organization would have to change its confidentiality restrictions to supervise effectively.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test: How reliable is it? A Penn prof explains

Theodore Schurr of the School of Arts and Sciences said U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s genetic analysis, which used indigenous DNA samples from Peru, Mexico, and Colombia as reference points, was legitimate due to historical migration patterns.

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Smithsonian Magazine

Scientists break the rules of reproduction by breeding mice from single-sex parents

The Perelman School of Medicine’s Marisa Bartolomei offered commentary on same-sex reproductive experiments, which have proven easier in bimaternal than bipaternal pairings.

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