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.
UW Considering Shuttering Institute for Public Health Genetics
The University of Washington may be considering shuttering its Institute for Public Health Genetics.
The news first appeared when the interim president of the cash-strapped school was asked to list potential program she would cut. According to Mynorthwest.com, "she put the Institute for Public Health Genetics on it."
However, "there's [a] debate about how much money killing the program would actually save," according to the report.
If UW goes ahead with her suggestion, it would be a great loss for clinical lab medicine and health care in general. Although the IPHG doesn't teach clinical lab medicine, its five degree programs contribute to the nation's modest cadre of genetic counselors.
According to its website, the curricula for the degree programs "focus on understanding genetic susceptibility to disease in populations and communities" and "address the ethical, legal, cultural, economic, and policy issues involved in applying genomics to public health."
IPHG's graduates become important but often underappreciated links in the genetic-medicine chain, advising specialists ranging from regulators and lawmakers to physicians and payors.
According to its website, IPHG "collaborates with several other major universities and government agencies to provide leadership in defining competencies for public health genetics professionals."
Losing the Institute, founded in 1997, would also affect pharmacoeconomists because of their growing influence in molding the evolution and adoption of genetic medicine, including molecular testing.
This is particularly true considering the quality of UW Medical School graduates: The Seattle-based school was the top-rated university in the Primary Care segment and was ranked 9th overall, according to the 2012 installment of U.S. News & World Report's annual survey of the nation's med schools.
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