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.
ESHG’s Gene-Patenting Guidelines Aim to Protect Innovation and Patient Access
The ESHG's recommendations include establishing an ethics committee to assess the scope of patents and limit the granting of broad patents; more interaction among US, EU, and Japanese patent authorities to align their patent systems; prohibiting patents for disease genes; and promoting new models for licensing to promote research.
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