Sequencing and Analysis of the Hydra Genome
Chapman, Kirkness et al., Nature
An international research collaboration reports their sequencing and analysis of the Hydra magnipapillata genome, and compare it to the genomes of several other organisms. "The Hydra genome has been shaped by bursts of transposable element expansion, horizontal gene transfer, trans-splicing, and simplification of gene structure and gene content that parallel simplification of the Hydra life cycle," the authors write. They team suggests that comparisons of the Hydra genome to the reported sequences of other animals have helped them to elucidate the evolution of several of the organism's characteristics.
ACLA Briefs Blues Chapter About 'Value of Genetic Testing'
February 02, 2010
ACLA and Results for Life recently briefed officials at Carefirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Baltimore about "the value and importance of genetic testing," according to ACLA.
File this one away as another step in helping to encourage third-party payors to continue reimbursing emerging clinical molecular diagnostics.
At the Carefirst session, which took place Jan. 18, ACLA said it "outlined the science underlying genomics and genetic testing, as well as the importance of such tests in improving diagnosis and care for a range of conditions, including birth defects, adult leukemia, heart disease and breast cancer."
RFL, which is "spearheaded" by ACLA, calls itself an "educational campaign promoting the value of laboratory testing being conducted by a coalition of clinical laboratories, physicians and professional laboratorians, and diagnostic test manufacturers."
Presenting at the session were Gene Dx co-founder Sherri Bale; Vicky Pratt, chief director of Molecular Genetics at Quest Diagnostics; Kaye Jones, director of Corporate Coding Resources at LabCorp; and David Mongillo, vice president for Policy and Medical Affairs at ACLA.
The group highlighted what it termed "emerging technologies and testing," including high-throughput DNA sequencing, microRNAs, copy-number variants, epigenetics, methylation, and proteomics.
Among the technologies it discussed were next-gen sequencer made by 454 and Illumina; single-stranded RNA molecules, which it said "may enable classification of cancers of unknown primary [and] determine therapy.
