Scientists have created the largest and most detailed bird family tree to date, revealing patterns in avian evolutionary history following the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. The updated tree, part of the Bird 10,000 Genomes Project, delineates 93 million years of relationships between 363 bird species and sheds light on adaptive mechanisms driving avian diversification. Advanced computational methods uncovered an unusual region of suppressed recombination in the bird genome, affecting the placement of flamingos and doves in the family tree, raising questions about the relationship between this genomic anomaly and the extinction event.
An international team of scientists has reconstructed the largest and most detailed bird family tree to date, delineating 93 million years of evolutionary relationships between 363 bird species using cutting-edge computational methods. The study, published in Nature and PNAS, revealed insights into avian diversification following the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, and corrected previous misconceptions about the evolutionary relationships between bird species. The advanced computational tools developed by engineers at the University of California San Diego played a crucial role in analyzing vast amounts of genomic data with high accuracy and speed, paving the way for the construction of the most comprehensive bird family tree ever assembled.
The All of Us Research Program has released genomic data from 245,388 participants, with 77% from under-represented communities. The dataset includes over 1 billion genetic variants, with 275 million previously unreported variants. The program aims to accelerate health research by providing summary data publicly and individual-level data to researchers through a secure cloud-based platform. The data has been validated for genetic associations and is available for diverse research projects, with a streamlined access model reducing barriers for authorized researchers.
The Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study (BIGCS) has released raw sequencing data approved by The Ministry of Science and Technology of China, enabling generational genetic discoveries. The study's code and software tools are available on Github, and various publicly available software and databases were used for the research. The study references previous genetic studies and cohorts, emphasizing the importance of prospective cohort studies in understanding human genetic variation and disease.
Genomic data from Indigenous Australians reveals high genetic variation and population structure, reflecting linguistic diversity. This research emphasizes the importance of respecting cultural perspectives and involving Indigenous communities in genomic research to promote genetic equity, particularly in areas such as healthcare.
Researchers have discovered that latent human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) can be reactivated in CAR T cells, a type of immune cell used in cancer immunotherapy. The study utilized genomic data and sequencing data to investigate the reactivation of HHV-6 in CAR T cells. The findings highlight the importance of understanding viral reactivation in the context of CAR T cell therapy and its potential implications for patient outcomes.
Genomic data from 3,154 modern humans suggests that around 900,000 years ago, humanity's ancestors experienced a population bottleneck, reducing their numbers from approximately 100,000 to just 1,280 breeding individuals. This drastic decline of 98.7% lasted for 117,000 years and could have brought humanity to the brink of extinction. The findings help explain a gap in the human fossil record during the Pleistocene and shed light on the impact of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition. The research also suggests that the bottleneck may have contributed to the fusion of two chromosomes, leading humans on a different evolutionary path.
