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Crotchety, Too

Nov 17, 2008

The Economist writes about researchers who traced back the age of genes involved in genetic diseases, finding that they are older than had been suspected. The researchers, from the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, compared the genomes of disparate organisms to determine the ages of genes they had in common. In their paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution, they say that disease-causing genes are present in single-celled organisms and that mammal-specific genes contained few disease-causing genes.

Breaking News
The Scan

Could Cost Billions

NBC News reports that the new Alzheimer's disease drug from Biogen could cost Medicare in the US billions of dollars.

Not Quite Sent

The Biden Administration likely won't meet its goal of sending 80 million SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses abroad by the end of the month, according to the Washington Post.

DTC Regulation Proposals

A new report calls on UK policymakers to review direct-to-consumer genetic testing regulations, the Independent reports.

PNAS Papers on Mosquito MicroRNAs, Acute Kidney Injury, Trichothiodystrophy

In PNAS this week: microRNAs involved in Aedes aegypti reproduction, proximal tubule cell response to kidney injury, and more.