Human Genetic Variation Alters Anthrax Toxin Sensitivity
Martchenko, Candille et al., PNAS
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine show that genetic variation affecting capillary morphogenesis gene 2, or CMG2, dramatically alters toxin sensitivity in humans. In its analysis, the team reports on "a CMG2 single-nucleotide polymorphism occurring frequently in African and European populations [that they found] independently altered toxin uptake." The group goes on to suggest "testing of genomically characterized human cell populations may offer a broadly useful strategy for elucidating effects of genetic variation on infectious disease susceptibility."
A Brainy Map
September 03, 2010
In Scientific American Mind, Allan Jones and Caroline Overly discuss the Allen Human Brain Atlas, which was launched in May. This "online interactive atlas of the human brain showing the activity of the more than 20,000 human genes" Jones and Overly say will allow researchers to "quickly determine where in the brain genes that encode specific proteins are active, including proteins that are likely to be affected by a new drug." They add that the atlas will expand over the coming years to include data from more brains, including gene expression data for certain brain regions, and will have improve search and visualization capabilities. "Perhaps someday these tools may give us a handle on more fundamental and long-standing curiosities such as: How do we think and feel? What is consciousness? And what makes us human?" they write.