GoKawiil
Tech News
Researchers have successfully sequenced the genome of Jonathan, the world's oldest land animal at approximately 194 years old. The study compared his genetic makeup with that of other tortoises to identify factors linked to his extraordinary longevity. Findings highlighted unique gene variants related to aging pathways such as DNA repair and mitochondrial function.
Scientists studying the 'exposome'—the sum of environmental and lifestyle exposures a person accumulates—are developing tools to measure chemical, pollutant, dietary and infectious exposures alongside genetic data. The concept, coined by epidemiologist Christopher Wild in 2005, aims to quantify environmental risk factors with the same precision now possible for genomics. Researchers note that environmental exposures account for an estimated 70-90% of chronic disease risk.
Researchers analyzed whole-genome sequencing data from 1,001 prostate cancer patients (1,172 tumour samples) collected through the PPCG consortium, applying computational tools to classify structural variants, including simple, complex, and chromothripsis-related genomic rearrangements. The team combined breakpoint detection, copy number segmentation, and statistical tests to build a detailed picture of mutational processes driving the disease.