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.
Healthcare Reform, Now Law, Delays New Tax on Certain Tests by Two Years
In case you missed it, the ACLA has a tidy comparison chart of how the healthcare bill that recently passed the House — and which was signed into law by President Barack Obama today — differs from the Senate version that passed last December.
Of eight items that will affect clinical labs, one was altered in the House version, which was passed over the weekend by a 219-to-212 vote.
According to the ACLA chart, the House bill would delay by two years a tax imposes on all Class II and III medical devices" — which includes certain diagnostic tests — "apportioned by Treasury based on prior year’s reported sales."
As part of the tax, companies generating less than $5 million in annual revenue will be exempted, while for those that generate between $5 million and $25 million, only 50 percent of their gross revenue will be levied. None of the taxes are deductible.
The House bill also "converts the industry fee to an excise tax on the first sale for use of medical devices at a rate of 2.9 percent."
President Obama signed the healthcare reform bill into law today. The next step is for the Senate to vote on a companion bill of proposed changes made by House Democrats. The Senate is slated to vote on this bill by March 27.