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The Genographic Project Produces Data

Starting in 2005, the Genographic Project began to use genetics to unravel anthropological questions such as, did humans and Neandertals interbreed? In today's PLoS Genetics, the researchers, supported by the National Geographic Society and IBM, released their database of 78,590 mtDNA variants contributed by members of the public. (A separate database of samples from indigenous people will be released separately, says blogger Hsein-Hsein Lei.) As for human/Neandertal offspring, the Genographic Project director Spencer Wells told Wired, "We don't see any Neanderthal lineages in the European gene pool."

The Scan

Positive Framing of Genetic Studies Can Spark Mistrust Among Underrepresented Groups

Researchers in Human Genetics and Genomics Advances report that how researchers describe genomic studies may alienate potential participants.

Small Study of Gene Editing to Treat Sickle Cell Disease

In a Novartis-sponsored study in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that a CRISPR-Cas9-based treatment targeting promoters of genes encoding fetal hemoglobin could reduce disease symptoms.

Gut Microbiome Changes Appear in Infants Before They Develop Eczema, Study Finds

Researchers report in mSystems that infants experienced an enrichment in Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Finegoldia and a depletion of Bacteroides before developing eczema.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Specificity Enhanced With Stem Cell Editing

A study in Nature suggests epitope editing in donor stem cells prior to bone marrow transplants can stave off toxicity when targeting acute myeloid leukemia with immunotherapy.