Connection Between Epigenome, Selective Mutability, Evolution, and Human Disease
Li, Harris et al., PLoS Genetics
Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine and elsewhere propose a "connection between the epigenome, selective mutability, evolution, and human disease" based on the findings of their study on associations of structural mutability with germline DNA methylation and with non-allelic homologous recombination mediated by low-copy repeats. "Combined evidence from four human sperm methylome maps, human genome evolution, structural polymorphisms in the human population, and previous genomic and disease studies consistently points to a strong association of germline hypomethylation and genomic instability," the Baylor-led team writes.
Blues of Delaware Names LabCorp Exclusive, Non-Hospital Commercial Lab
LabCorp and its DIANON Systems subsidiary will become the exclusive, non-hospital commercial laboratory provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware members beginning Feb. 1, 2011.
The move "does not impact hospitals or physicians that are in-network providers for laboratory services," according to Delaware's Blues.
BCBSD members who have lab services performed in hospitals or physicians' offices "will still be able to utilize these facilities," the Blues said.
In August, Empire BlueCross BlueShield of New York State expanded its HMO Reference Laboratory Network "for all markets" to include LabCorp and its DIANON Systems. Centrex Clinical Labs subsidiaries was also added to the network at the time.
Got a tip? Click my byline above to send it along or submit it as a comment below. Follow my headlines on Twitter or subscribe to my RSS feed.