Category Archives: Genetics

It is understood that while genes are the bodys blueprint its basic physical and functional unit of heredity not a lot of people pause to think about genetic anomalies or disorders that may be affecting their health.

Women, especially, are unaware of just how much their genes impact their health, and how prevention of certain genetic diseases can be done to ensure a healthy offspring.

Dr Hema Purandarey, consultant medical and reproductive geneticist, MedGenome Centre for Genetic Health Care shares with indianexpress.com some health conditions that women are more prone to through genetics, and the tests available to detect them.

1. Chromosomal aneuploidy in babies of expecting mothers: A condition in which a cell has an incorrect number of chromosomes. If there is an error in the normal processes of fertilization, there can be changes to the number or structures of chromosomes which can lead to an offspring with birth defects due to the abnormal structure or number.

The most commonly seen type of defect is an extra chromosome 21 called trisomy 21 or Down syndrome. Genetic screening and diagnostic tests are available with pre-test and post-test counselling which can identify these changes in the foetal state. These include specific noninvasive screening tests like NIPT and parental karyotypes and invasive diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling to identify the genetic makeup of the baby.

2. X-linked inherited disorders: Some disorders are X-linked, which means a female with 2X chromosomes will be a carrier, but if she passes this to her male offspring, it will be affected since males only inherit one X chromosome from their mother, the other being a Y chromosome inherited from the father. Finding out about carrier status prior to conception can help to plan genetic counselling. Testing is available for several such disorders like Fragile X, Hemophilia, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy etc.

3. Hematological disorder screening: Couples have to be screened if they are carriers for common hematological disorders such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Consanguinity increases the risk of having any recessive genetic disorder by approximately 25 per cent.

A carrier screening test can help prevent both X-linked and conditions such as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia from being passed on. It also helps couples understand and plan better for their future. This is a comprehensive test screening, with the capability to detect mutations causing disease in more than 2,000 genes.

4. Recurrent pregnancy loss: Three or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks from the last menstrual period are defined as recurrent pregnancy loss or RPL. Epidemiological studies show 1 per cent to 2 per cent of pregnant women suffer from RPL. Genetic causes of recurrent pregnancy losses account for about 2-5 per cent. Chromosomal or genetic abnormalities lead to most losses of pregnancy. The abnormality might come from the early embryo, egg, or sperm.

There are genetic tests that can help detect if the pregnancy loss was due to an abnormal number of chromosomes, and provide insights to plan and support a successful pregnancy in future.

5. Implantation failure during IVF: One in two human preimplantation-IVF embryos are chromosomally abnormal. This causes them to implant onto the uterine wall or not stay there long enough for a successful pregnancy. This leads to miscarriages and failed IVFs. If there is a family history of a genetic disorder, the fertilized embryo can be tested using pre-implantation genetic testing. If a donor was used, the donor sperm or the egg can be tested.

6. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: In women, approximately 15 per cent of all ovarian cancers and 7 per cent of all breast cancers are caused by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. At present, we have predictive tests like BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene tests for this. Actor Angelina Jolie had a history of breast and ovarian cancer. So, she asked to be genetically tested and when it was clear she was susceptible, she had the required surgeries. Early detection can not only save life but also reduce the financial burden of advanced treatment.

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Genetic health conditions every woman should know about - The Indian Express

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PLoS Genet. 2021 Jan 8;17(1):e1009224. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009224. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Discovering drugs that efficiently treat brain diseases has been challenging. Genetic variants that modulate the expression of potential drug targets can be utilized to assess the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. We therefore employed Mendelian Randomization (MR) on gene expression measured in brain tissue to identify drug targets involved in neurological and psychiatric diseases. We conducted a two-sample MR using cis-acting brain-derived expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) from the Accelerating Medicines Partnership for Alzheimers Disease consortium (AMP-AD) and the CommonMind Consortium (CMC) meta-analysis study (n = 1,286) as genetic instruments to predict the effects of 7,137 genes on 12 neurological and psychiatric disorders. We conducted Bayesian colocalization analysis on the top MR findings (using P<610-7 as evidence threshold, Bonferroni-corrected for 80,557 MR tests) to confirm sharing of the same causal variants between gene expression and trait in each genomic region. We then intersected the colocalized genes with known monogenic disease genes recorded in Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) and with genes annotated as drug targets in the Open Targets platform to identify promising drug targets. 80 eQTLs showed MR evidence of a causal effect, from which we prioritised 47 genes based on colocalization with the trait. We causally linked the expression of 23 genes with schizophrenia and a single gene each with anorexia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder within the psychiatric diseases and 9 genes with Alzheimers disease, 6 genes with Parkinsons disease, 4 genes with multiple sclerosis and two genes with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis within the neurological diseases we tested. From these we identified five genes (ACE, GPNMB, KCNQ5, RERE and SUOX) as attractive drug targets that may warrant follow-up in functional studies and clinical trials, demonstrating the value of this study design for discovering drug targets in neuropsychiatric diseases.

PMID:33417599 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1009224

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Identifying drug targets for neurological and psychiatric disease via genetics and the brain transcriptome - DocWire News

Invasive round goby fish have impacted fisheries in the Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes by competing with native species and eating the eggs of some species of game fish.

But the camouflaged bottom dwellers can be difficult to find and collect especially when they first enter a new body of water and their numbers are low and they might be easier to remove.

In a proof-of-principle study, Cornell researchers describe a new technique in which they analyzed environmental DNA or eDNA from water samples in Cayuga Lake to gather nuanced information about the presence of these invasive fish.

The study, Nuclear eDNA Estimates Population Allele Frequencies and Abundance in Experimental Mesocosms and Field Samples, was published Jan. 12 in the journal Molecular Ecology.

While eDNA techniques have been increasingly studied for the last decade, previous methods typically focused on whether a species was present in an ecosystem.

With these new advancements to eDNA methods, we can learn not only which invasive species are present in the environment, but because we identify the genetic diversity in the samples, we can also predict how many individuals there are and possibly where they came from, said Kara Andres, the papers first author and a graduate student in the lab of co-author David Lodge, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.

For the first time, we demonstrate that there is sufficient genetic information in environmental samples to study the origins, connectivity, and status of invasive, elusive, threatened or otherwise difficult to monitor species without the need for direct contact, added Jose Andrs, senior research associate in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in CALS and a senior author of the study.

Since the method provides a genetic signature of individuals in a sample, scientists might be able to pinpoint where they came from by matching their DNA with populations from other areas.

We would be able to tell genetically if round gobies were introduced by ships from Europe, which is how they originally got to the Great Lakes, or by some other means of introduction. Knowing this information might be helpful if we hope to stem new introductions at early stages, Kara Andres said.

In addition, knowing the genetic diversity of species could prove useful in conservation efforts; low genetic diversity can indicate a dwindling or vulnerable population that requires managing its genetics.

In the near future, this type of technique is likely to revolutionize how environmental and conservation management agencies monitor wild populations, Jose Andrs said.

The researchers conducted controlled experiments using small artificial environments water-filled bins with one, three, five or 10 gobies in them. After collecting genetic information from all the gobies, they took water samples from each bin to see if they could match DNA from the samples with individuals in the bins. They also tried to estimate the number of fish in each bin, based on the water sample alone. They were successful in both instances, Kara Andres said.

The researchers further validated their methods in Cayuga Lake, where they found high numbers of gobies, especially in shallow areas.

This sensitive approach, Kara Andres said, may overcome many of the logistical and financial challenges faced by scientists and conservation managers studying these species, allowing precious resources to be best allocated for improving conservation outcomes.

Suresh Sethi, an assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in CALS, is a co-author of the study.

The study was funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Defense.

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DNA in water used to uncover genes of invasive fish | Cornell Chronicle - Cornell Chronicle

RUTHERFORD, N.J., Jan. 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cancer Genetics, Inc. (the Company) (Nasdaq: CGIX), an emerging leader in novel drug discovery techniques, announced today that Jay Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, will present at the 2021 BioConnect Virtual Conference hosted by H.C. Wainwright. Registered attendees can access the recorded presentation on-demand (24x7) for the duration of the conference.

Mr. Roberts will highlight the Company's recent transformational business strategy, discuss near-term events including the Companys proposed merger with StemoniX, Inc., and the broader corporate vision of the Company going forward.

CGIX will be available for virtual 1:1 meetings both during and after the BioConnect Conference. Please contact Jennifer K. Zimmons, Ph.D. jzimmons@zimmonsic.com 917.214.3514 for scheduling.

ABOUT CANCER GENETICS

Through its vivoPharm subsidiary, Cancer Genetics offers proprietary preclinical test systems supporting drug discovery programs, valued by the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology companies and academic research centers. The Company is focused on precision and translational medicine to drive drug discovery and novel therapies. vivoPharm specializes in conducting studies tailored to guide therapeutic development, starting from compound libraries and ending with a comprehensive set of in vitro and in vivo data and reports, as needed for Investigational New Drug filings. vivoPharm operates in The Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) accredited and GLP compliant audited facilities. For more information, please visit http://www.cancergenetics.com.

For more information, please visit or follow CGI at:

Internet: http://www.cancergenetics.com

Twitter: @Cancer_Genetics

Forward Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements pertaining to Cancer Genetics Inc.s expectations regarding future financial and/or operating results, and potential for our services, future revenues or growth, or the potential for future strategic transactions in this press release constitute forward-looking statements.

Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to, statements that contain words such as will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in our ability to satisfy all closing conditions to the merger with StemoniX, Inc. and realize the expected benefits therefrom, our attempts to adapt to the global coronavirus pandemic, our attempts to achieve profitability by increasing sales of our pre-clinical services, maintain our existing customer base and avoid cancellation of customer contracts or discontinuance of trials, our attempts to raise capital to meet our liquidity needs, market and other conditions, and other risks discussed in the Cancer Genetics, Inc. Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, along with other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Cancer Genetics, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Investor Contacts:Jennifer K. Zimmons. Ph.D.Investor RelationsZimmons International Communications, Inc.Email: jzimmons@zimmonsic.comPhone: +1.917.214.3514

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Cancer Genetics to Present at the 2021 BioConnect Virtual Conference Hosted by H.C. Wainwright - GlobeNewswire

The global preimplantation genetictestingmarket is projected to gain traction foranalysingminor disabilities along with other serious ailments for instance cancer. Researchers are engaged on utilizing innovative techniques to eliminate the probability of embryo destruction while PGT procedures. Certain test type includes genetic screening and genetic diagnosis.

Out of these, genetic screening will be the majorly preferredtesting typein the preimplantation genetic testing market in contrast to genetic diagnosis. According to Fact.MR, the segment is estimated to surpass US$ 300 million revenue by the end of 2022.

It further claims,The rising knowledge of genetics and surging demand for genetically testing, as a result of AI and big data technology is a favourable driver for expansion of the preimplantation genetic testing market. Furthermore, ensuing innovations in genetic diagnosis for instance PGT monogenic disease diagnosis (PGT-M), encourages the industrial expansion.

Request Sample Report-https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=292

On account of these trends, the preimplantation genetic testing market is slated to experience robust growth. Fact.MR states that the market is expected to record an impressive CAGR of 8.4% amid the assessment period (2017-2022).

Adoption of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing Results in Increasing Acceptance

Embryo HLA typing for stem cell therapy is anticipated to discover the largest application in the preimplantation genetic testing market. High accomplishment rate of hematopoietic reconstitution in offspring owing to stem cells transplantation gained from the HLA-matched offspring will be driving the segment growth. Accounting for over 2/5th of the revenue share, the segment is likely to account for over US$ 200 Mn revenue towards 2022 end.

Explore 312 tables, 103 figures of the study. Request TOC of the report at https://www.factmr.com/report/292/preimplantation-genetic-testing-market

North America to Remain Lucrative Throughout the Forecast Period

North America will come forth as the leading market for preimplantation genetic testing. The region is poised to exceed US$ 200 Mn by 2022 end. Rising adoption of innovative technologies and growing awareness regarding preimplantation genetic testing to sidestep several birth defects amid babies are a few of the aspects driving the growth in the region.

High Cost Associated with PGD Technologies is Restraining Growth of Global Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market

A key factor that constraints the preimplantation genetic testing market from gaining a higher growth pace is high costs incurred in the PGD technologies, states Fact.MR. Moreover, ethical concerns and strict government regulations is anticipated to hamper the growth of the market. However, the preimplantation genetic testing is foreseeing a surge in demand owing to the high probabilities of pregnancy with these procedure in contrast to the other treatments.

Explore Fact.MR's lucid coverage of the Healthcare landscape

Genetic Testing Services Market: The global genetic testing services market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 64.1Bn by the end of the forecast period (2020-2025).

Genetic Disorder Therapeutics Market: Misguiding of the gene which negatively impacts on the cell and the high cost of the therapies constraints the genetic disorder therapeutics market. (2018-2026).

About Fact.MR

Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.

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High Pregnancy Chances with the PGT Procedures Fuelling Demand for Preimplantation Genetic Testing Market, Finds Fact.MR - BioSpace

Genetic progress has helped drive our industry forward and each segment along the value chain hasbenefited from technological advancements in genetics followed by breeder integration. But, have we moved the needle far enough with regard to total beef system profitability?

There are opportunities to take a step forward from the current one size fits all production models. Managers are seeking solutions to their constant struggle to balance getting cows bred while producing highly desirable feeder cattle. Any direction a manager leans, maternal or terminal, tends to leave them in a profitability-strapped state. Have balanced trait idealisms taken us as far as they can? Is it time to consider terminal breeding systems?

Frankly, average cow productivity simply isnt good enough to sustain profitability in most systems long-term. There is a real need for advancements in maternal productivity. Highly functional cows that last longer are simply hard to make while also trying to blend the genetics required for terminal performance.

If we truly believe in sustainable production moving forward, this must be accounted for in the environmental equation that supports progress in all areas. Therefore, is it time to examine the feasibility of focused maternal genetic inputs matched with a terminal genetic line to maximize heterosis and metric specific performance traits?

Moreover, why continue to fight the genetic balancing battle while simultaneously struggling with regional environmental challenges and other competing profit centers? If a tiger stripe is the Cadillac of your area, cultivate internal or external pipelines that will meet annual replacement rates. After that, simply use targeted terminal crosses to maximize value-based marketability. The same can be said for every region from coast to coast.

If large ranching systems coast to coast begin this transition into more defined approaches to production with clear efforts toward highly simplified maternal and terminal genetic lines, is that a step backward? Or, does it represent true progress in system processes that will ultimately drive successful ranching? I think it might be the next logical step. A transition made possible by technologies such as sexed semen and other advancements in genetics and forced by growing challenges to operational efficiencies.

It might represent a form of production that is simply a generation newer. Perhaps the time has come to finally effectively utilize purpose specific lines of genetics to achieve sustainable levels of profit through the right combination of simplicity and precision. Balanced trait genetic approaches have brought the national beef herd to the great place it is today. However, will its overarching effectiveness continue to diminish as our industry progresses?

Jared Wareham is the North American business development manager for ABS NuEra. He has been involved in the cattle industry for over two decades, in business development roles growing genetics-focused companies that service producers along the beef value chain by driving the integration of precision-based production.

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Jared Wareham: Are Balanced Trait Genetics a Long-Term Answer? - Drovers Magazine

Seed banks across the globe store and preserve the genetic diversity of millions of varieties of crops. This massive collection of genetic material ensures crop breeders access to a wealth of genetics with which to breed crops that yield better or resist stress and disease.

But, with a world of corn genetics at their disposal, how do plant breeders know which varieties are worth studying and which ones aren't? For most of history, that required growing the varieties and studying their performance in the real world. But innovative data analytics and genomics could help plant breeders predict the performance of new varieties without having to go to the effort of growing them.

Jianming Yu, a professor of agronomy at Iowa State University and the Pioneer Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding, has devoted much of his research to "turbo charging" the seemingly endless amount of genetic stocks contained in the world's seed banks. Yu and his colleagues have published an article in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, a scientific publication, that details their latest efforts to predict traits in corn-based on genomics and data analytics.

Plant breeders searching for varieties to test might feel lost in a sea of genomic material. Yu said applying advanced data analytics to all those genomes can help breeders narrow down the number of varieties they're interested in much faster and more efficiently.

"We're always searching for the best genetic combinations, and we search the various combinations to see what varieties we want to test," said Xiaoqing Yu (no relation), a former postdoctoral research associate in Yu's lab and the first author of the study. "Having these predictions can guide our searching process."

The study focused on predicting eight corn traits based on the shoot apical meristem (SAM), a microscopic stem cell niche that generates all the above-ground organs of the plant. The researchers used their analytical approach to predict traits in 2,687 diverse maize inbred varieties based on a model they developed from studying 369 inbred varieties that had been grown and had their shoot apical meristems pictured and measured under the microscope.

The researchers then validated their predictions with data obtained from 488 inbreds to determine their prediction accuracy ranged from 37% to 57% across the eight traits they studied.

"We wanted to connect the research in foundational biological mechanisms of cell growth and differentiation with agronomic improvement of corn," said Mike Scanlon, a professor of developmental biology at Cornell University and the lead investigator of the multi-institutional team behind the study. "SAM morphometric measurements in corn seedlings allow a quick completion of the study cycle. It not only enables that connection, but also extends the practice of genomic prediction into the microphenotypic space."

Jianming Yu said plant breeders can bump up the accuracy of those genomic predictions by increasing the number of plants per inbred for measurement and findings-improved prediction algorithms. More importantly, plant breeders can finetune their selection process for which inbreds to study closely by leveraging the "U values," a statistical concept that accounts for the reliability of estimates. Yu said the study shows that implementing a selection process that accounts for prediction and statistical reliability can help plant breeders zero in on desirable crop genetics faster.

For instance, analytical models might predict a particular inbred to have modest potential for a given trait, but the U value, or the upper bound for reliability, might indicate a high degree of unreliability in those predictions. So plant breeders might elect to test inbreds that don't do as well in the predictive model simply because of their genetic uniqueness, being less related to those used in building the prediction models.

"We found that there can be a balance between selecting for optimizing short-term gain and mining diversity," Yu said. "It's a tricky balance for plant breeders. Those considerations sometimes go in different directions. Genetic improvement can be viewed as space exploration, either of the vast amount of existing genetic materials in seed banks or of the innumerable breeding progenies constantly being generated. We want to develop better tools to guide those decisions in the process."

Reference: Yu X, Leiboff S, Li X, et al.Genomic prediction of maize microphenotypes provides insights for optimizing selection and mining diversity.Plant Biotechnol. J. 2020. doi:10.1111/pbi.13420

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Turbo Charging the Genetic Stocks Contained in the Worlds Seed Banks - Technology Networks

TipRanks

Sentiment is on the rise as the annus horribilis 2020 winds to an end. Theres a feeling, after all we have been through over the past ten months, that things just can not get worse. And so, investors are looking forward to 2021.Two big factors in market uncertainty are on their way to resolving themselves. First, COVID-19 vaccines are in the works, and two major drug companies have announced that vaccines will be available in a matter of months. And second, Democrat Joe Biden will take office in the White House, with a strengthened GOP opposition in Congress. The prospect of relief from the coronavirus and a divided government unable to enact extreme or controversial measures promises us a degree of stability that will be welcome.A feeling of optimism and a perception that there are opportunities available, have Wall Streets analysts tagging stocks for success. Weve pulled up theTipRanks dataon three stocks that high-rated analysts have tagged as potentially strong investments. These are buy-rated equities, with double-digit upside potential for the coming year.LendingTree, Inc. (TREE)First up is LendingTree, the online marketplace that connects borrowers and lenders. The company offers borrowers options to shop for competitive rates, loan terms, and various financing products. Among the offerings, from multiple financing sources, are credit cards, deposit accounts, and insurance products. LendingTree is based in North Carolina, with offices in New York, Chicago, and Seattle.In the third quarter, the company showed mixed fiscal results. Revenues were up sequentially, gaining 19% to reach $220 million but earnings were down, both sequentially and year-over-year. At minus $1.33, the EPS was net-negative, and far below the year-ago quarters $1.70.Covering this stock for Needham, 5-star analyst Mayank Tandon rated 66 overall out of more than 7,100 stock pros is upbeat despite the recent turndown after the Q3 results. Tandon noted, [We] remain positive on the shares of TREE LT as we believe that the company is well-positioned to generate strong and consistent revenue Consumer revenue dropped 68% Y/Y as the pandemic constrained consumer credit originations, but trends improved on a sequential basis due to better personal loan volumes and a seasonal boost from the student loan business""TREE's diversified portfolio of personal finance products and the strong secular trends driving the shift of personal finance advertising and shopping to digital channels will help the company achieve its LT growth targets, the analyst concluded. To this end, Tandon rates TREE a Buy, and sets a $375 price target. At current levels, his target suggests a 44% upside for the stock in 2021. (To watch Tandons track record, click here)LendingTree has a unanimous Strong Buy analyst consensus rating, based on 6 Buy reviews set in recent week. The stocks average price target, $362, implies it has room for 39% growth from the current share price of $260.09. (See TREE stock analysis on TipRanks)Allegro MicroSystems (ALGM)Allegro MicroSystems is a semiconductor company and fabless manufacturer of integrated circuits for sensor systems and analyst power technologies. The companys products are used in the automotive and industrial sectors, and include solutions for developing electric vehicle control systems. Allegros circuit chips can also be found in data centers and green energy applications.Allegro is new to the stock markets, having held its IPO just this past October. The stock debuted at $14 per share, and the company put 25 million shares up for offer. In its first day of trading, it closed at more than $17 per share, grossing over $440 million for the IPO. Since then, ALGM has gained 35% in less than four weeks of trading.Vijay Rakesh, 5-star analyst with Mizuho, is clearly bullish on this newly public company.We believe Allegro is leading the early stages of a multi-decade transformation in sensing, automotive electrification, and power distribution, with substantial upside from its industry leadership in magnetic sensors, a differentiated Power IC roadmap, and fabless operating model. Allegro's xMR sensors and power ICs drive technology platform leadership and enable better performance, accuracy, and control for the growing EV market and Industry 4.0 - key for next-generation electrified automotive powertrains, data centers, and factory automation, Rakesh wrote.Along with his upbeat comments, Rakesh gives this stock a Buy rating and a $28 price target. His target implies an upside potential of ~17% for the next 12 months. (To watch Rakeshs track record, click here)Overall, this chip maker is a Wall Street favorite. Out of 6 analysts polled in the last 3 months, all 6 are bullish on ALGM. With a return potential of ~18%, the stock's consensus target price stands at $28.29. (See ALGM stock analysis on TipRanks)American Well (AMWL)American Well, also called AmWell, connects patients, health care providers, and insurers to promote quality care outcomes in a digital world. The company boasts over 55 major insurers and more than 62,000 providers incorporating its service into their networks, giving access to more than 80 million potential patients.AmWell is another newcomer to the markets. This past September, the company held its IPO and raised more than $742 million. Over 41.2 million shares were sold, with the initial price of $18. This compared well to the 35 million shares and $14 to $16 price expected prior to the event. In its first quarter trading as a public company, AmWell reported several gains in key metrics. Revenue was up year-over-year, rising 80% to reach $62.6 million. The active provider total more than 62,000 represents a 930% increase in the past year, and shows strong growth for the company. And the company registered over 1.4 million patient visits during the quarter, a 450% increase from the year-ago quarter.Piper Sandlers 5-star analyst Sean Wieland notes the importance of network growth for AMWL, writing in his note on the stock: 62K providers are using the AMWL Network, up almost 10x from a year ago. The increase was driven primarily by providers employed by, or affiliated with, AMWL's health systems and payor clients As the number of providers on the network grows, so does the value of the network; network expansion makes it easier for patients to find the right provider and for providers to find the right patient.Wieland rates AMWL an Overweight (i.e. Buy), and his $44 price target indicates his confidence in an upside of 78% for the next 12 months. (To watch Wielands track record, click here)All in all, AMWL's Moderate Buy consensus rating is based on 8 reviews, including 5 Buys and 3 Holds. The shares are selling for $24.71 and their average price target, at $35.86, represents a 45% upside potential. (See AMWL stock analysis at TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Forecast: Analysts Think Fulgent Genetics, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:FLGT) Business Prospects Have Improved Drastically - Yahoo Finance

Africa is the cradle of humankind. All humans are descendants from this common pool of ancestors. Africa and its multitude of ethnolinguistic groups are therefore fundamental to learning more about humans and our origins.

A genome is the complete set of genetic information in a cell. We inherit our genomes from our parents. Studying the variations in peoples genomes gives clues to how genetic information influences peoples health and tells us about our ancestry.

Very few African individuals have been included in studies looking at genetic variation. Studying African genomes fills a gap in the current understanding of human genetic variation and gives new insights into the history of African populations.

My colleagues and I, who are all members of the Human Heredity and Health (H3Africa) consortium, contributed to a landmark genetics study, which focused on 426 individuals from 13 African countries. More than 50 different ethnolinguistic groups were represented, one of the most diverse groups of Africans ever to be included in such an investigation. We sequenced the whole genome of each of these individuals in other words, we could read every part of the genome to look for variation.

This study contributes a major new source of African genomic data, which shows the complex and vast diversity of African genetic variation.

One of the key outcomes was the discovery of more than three million new genetic variants. This is significant because we are learning about human genetic diversity in general, and discovering more differences that could be linked to disease or traits.

The study also adds details to what is known about the migration and expansion of groups across the continent. We were able to show that Zambia was probably an intermediate site on the likely route of migration from the west of the continent to east and southwards. Evidence supporting movement from east Africa to central Nigeria between 1 500 and 2 000 years ago was also revealed through the identification of east African ancestry in a central Nigerian ethnolinguistic group, the Berom.

The study enabled us to reclassify certain variants that were previously suspected to cause disease. Variants that cause serious genetic diseases are often rare in the general population, mostly because a person with such a variant often does not reach adulthood. The study showed that many of these variants are quite common in the studied populations, something one wouldnt expect in healthy adults. This finding helps to reclassify these variants for clinical interpretation.

Finally, we found a surprising number of regions with signatures of natural selection that have not previously been reported. Selection means that when individuals are exposed to environmental factors like a viral infection, or a drastic new dietary component, some gene variants may confer an added adaptive advantage to the humans that bear them in their genome.

Our best interpretation of these findings is that as humans across Africa were exposed to different environments, sometimes as a result of migration, these variants probably helped them survive in those new conditions. This has left an imprint on the genome and contributes to genomic diversity across the continent.

Our data has also shown that we have not yet found all the variation in the human genome. There is more to learn by looking at unstudied population groups. Less than a quarter of participants in genomics research are of non-European ancestry because most genetic data comes from just three countries the United Kingdom (40%), the United States (19%) and Iceland (12%).

It is essential to keep adding more genomic data from all populations to ensure that everyone can benefit from the advances in health that precision medicine offers. Precision medicine refers to the customisation of healthcare to fit the individual. Including personal genetic information could radically change the nature and scope of healthcare options that would work best for that individual.

The Human Heredity and Health consortium is now in its eighth year of existence and supports more than 51 projects. These include studies focusing on diseases such as diabetes, HIV and tuberculosis. The reference data generated through our study are already being put to use by many of the consortiums studies.

We are planning to take an even deeper look at the data to better understand what other types of genetic variation exist and to add unstudied populations to expand and enrich this data set.

Building capacity for genomics research on the African continent is a key goal of Human Heredity and Health. An important aspect of this study is that it was driven and conducted by researchers and scientists from 24 institutions in Africa participated and led this investigation.

Zan Lombard is principal medical scientist and associate professor at the University of the Witwatersrand. This is an edited version of an article first published by The Conversation. Read the original article here

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Africa study finds three million new genetic variations - Mail and Guardian

Africa is the cradle of humankind. All humans are descendants from this common pool of ancestors. Africa and its multitude of ethnolinguistic groups are therefore fundamental to learning more about humankind and our origins.

A human genome refers to the complete set of genetic information found in a human cell. We inherit our genomes from our parents. Studying the variations in different peoples genomes gives important clues to how genetic information influences peoples appearance and health. It can also tell us about our ancestry. To date, very few African individuals have been included in studies looking at genetic variation. Studying African genomes not only fills a gap in the current understanding of human genetic variation, but also reveals new insights into the history of African populations.

My colleagues and I, who are all members of the Human Heredity and Health (H3Africa) consortium, contributed to a landmark genetics study. This study focused on 426 individuals from 13 African countries. More than 50 different ethnolinguistic groups were represented in the study one of the most diverse groups of Africans ever to be included in such an investigation. We sequenced the whole genome of each of these individuals this means we could read every part of the genome to look for variation.

This study contributes a major, new source of African genomic data, which showcases the complex and vast diversity of African genetic variation. And it will support research for decades to come.

Our findings have broad relevance, from learning more about African history and migration, to clinical research into the impact of specific variants on health outcomes.

One of the key outcomes was the discovery of more than three million new genetic variants. This is significant because we are learning more about human genetic diversity in general, and discovering more differences that could be linked to disease or traits in the future.

This study also adds details to what is known about the migration and expansion of groups across the continent. We were able to show that Zambia was most probably an intermediate site on the likely route of migration from west Africa to east and south Africa. Evidence supporting movement from east Africa to central Nigeria between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago was also revealed, through the identification of a substantial amount of east African ancestry in a central Nigerian ethnolinguistic group, the Berom.

The study also enabled us to reclassify certain variants that were previously suspected to cause disease. Variants that cause serious genetic diseases are often rare in the general population, mostly because their effect is so severe that a person with such a variant often does not reach adulthood. But we observed many of these variants at quite common levels in the studied populations. One wouldnt expect that these types of disease-causing variants would be this common in healthy adults. This finding helps to reclassify these variants for clinical interpretation.

Finally, we found a surprising number of regions with signatures of natural selection that have not been previously reported. Selection means that when individuals are exposed to environmental factors like a viral infection, or a drastic new dietary component, some gene variants may confer an added adaptive advantage to the humans that bear them in their genome.

Our best interpretation of these findings is that as humans across Africa were exposed to different environments sometimes as a result of migration these variants were likely important to surviving in those new conditions. This has left an imprint on the genome and contributes to genomic diversity across the continent.

Our data has shown that we have not yet found all the variation in the human genome. There is more to learn by adding new, unstudied population groups. We know that less than a quarter of participants in genomics research are of non-European ancestry. Most available genetic data come from just three countries the UK (40%), the US (19%) and Iceland (12%).

It is essential to keep adding more genomic data from all global populations including Africa. This will ensure that everyone can benefit from the advances in health that precision medicine offers. Precision medicine refers to the customisation of healthcare to fit the individual. Including personal genetic information could radically change the nature and scope of healthcare options that would work best for that individual.

The Human Heredity and Health consortium is now in its eighth year of existence, and supports more than 51 diverse projects. These include studies focusing on diseases like diabetes, HIV and tuberculosis. The reference data generated through our study are already being put to use by many of the consortiums studies.

Read more: What we've learnt from building Africa's biggest genome library

Next, we are planning to take an even deeper look at the data to better understand what other types of genetic variation exist. We are also hoping to add further unstudied populations to grow and enrich this data set.

Building capacity for genomics research on the African continent is a key goal of Human Heredity and Health. An important aspect of this study is that it was driven and conducted by researchers and scientists from the African continent. Researchers from 24 institutions across Africa participated and led this investigation. This study showcases the availability of both infrastructure and skills for large-scale genomics research on the continent. It also highlights the prospect of future world-class research on this topic from Africa.

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Major new study unveils complexity and vast diversity of Africa's genetic variation - The Conversation CA