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Mixed up: Insights into artificial sequencing chimeras
Sequencing a genome is not as simple as reading a book. All those neatly lined up letters are the final product of a complex process made up of many intricate steps that can—and do—go wrong. In a report published in G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics, Peccoud et al. put their painful sequencing experiences to good use providing new insights into…
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The genomic downside of greener pastures
Population data from Quebec reveals the genetic consequences of rapid human expansions. The majority of the 6.5 million French Canadians living in Quebec today can trace their heritage to just 8500 settlers who formed clusters around the Saint Lawrence River in the early 17th century. Most remained near those riverside settlements until 200 years later,…
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Learning to peer review: program update
An update on the pilot GENETICS Peer Review Training Program, which provides early career scientists with a mentored peer review experience in which they participate in authentic manuscript reviews. The second phase of the pilot program is currently accepting applicants. As a scientific society publisher, the GSA serves our community. That’s why we are so…
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Undergrad Travel Award winners — Spring 2018
To promote excellence in undergraduate research and education, the Genetics Society of America has established a travel award to assist undergraduate members attending a GSA conference to present their research. Congratulations to all the winners of the Undergraduate Travel Award for Spring 2018! Mayra M. Banuelos San Francisco State University STRs (short tandem…
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Giant milkweed genome grows drug potential
Shrub rich in potentially anticancer and antimalarial cardenolide compounds is sequenced in search of biosynthetic pathways. The giant milkweed Calotropis gigantea, a flowering shrub that can grow to 13 feet tall, produces a multitude of chemicals that have possible anticancer and antimalarial properties. A new Genome Report published in G3 describes the plant’s genome, providing…
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Ashlyn Ritter on connecting scientists with the medical community
Medical science liaison Ashlyn Ritter’s passion for science communication was a perfect match for her career. She shares tips on how to branch out of academia and be creative about the networking process. In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many directions possible after research training. This series is…
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Early Career Leadership Spotlight — Ryan Briscoe Runquist
We’re taking time over the following weeks to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us every week to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Ryan Briscoe Runquist Co-chair, Steering Committee University of Minnesota Research Interest The earth is shared by a…
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Pointing to problems with textbook arrows
You’ve probably encountered at least one diagram in a biology textbook that didn’t make any sense to you. Although these pictures are supposed to clarify ideas, sometimes they leave readers befuddled. This is a particular problem for students; experts looking at schematics are able to fall back on their knowledge of a subject, while novices…
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A CRISPR shortcut for switching yeast mating types
Wild yeast aren’t picky about their mates. For Saccharomyces cerevisiae, setting the mood is as simple as providing an abundant supply of nutrients, which prompts each yeast cell to search for another of the opposite mating type. If a lonesome yeast cell can’t find a suitable partner, it’s no problem—it can alternate between mating types,…
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How does trisomy 21 cause heart defects in Down syndrome?
In 1983, the median lifespan for people born with Down syndrome in the US was only 25 years. Today, due to better treatments for some of the most dangerous complications, that number has more than doubled. Despite these strides, many people with Down syndrome still die prematurely from congenital heart defects. In a recent study, Rambo-Martin…
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Early Career Leadership Spotlight — Veronica Donato
We’re taking time over the following weeks to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us every week to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Veronica Donato Steering Committee CONICET – Argentina Research Interest The brain is subject to unwanted, age-related changes…