WEEKEND READS π Get link Facebook X Pinterest Email Other Apps March 02, 2025 Recommended book of the weekend: π ☕➡️ "NEXT OF KIN" By John Boyne ππππππππππππππππππππππππ Get link Facebook X Pinterest Email Other Apps
GENE DUPLICATIONS IN EVOLUTIONARY INNOVATION September 14, 2025 "πΎπππ ππ¦π‘πππππ₯ππ π π‘π£π π§ππππ€ π π£πππ¦ππππππͺ π₯πππ₯ ππ£πππ€ π ππ ππ π‘πͺ ππ£π π π€πππππ₯ππ§π ππ ππ€π₯π£ππππ₯, ππππ π¨πππ ππ₯ π₯π ππ©π‘ππ π£π πππ¨ ππ¦πππ₯ππ πππ π€π‘πππ." - Dr. Richard Lewontin 𧬠Gene duplications are a driving force in evolution, offering raw material for innovation. They arise through mechanisms like unequal crossing over, retroposition, or whole-genome duplication (WGD). Once a gene is duplicated, one copy can conserve its original role, while the other diverges; fueling new functions, adaptations, or even nonfunctionalization (pseudogenes). πΉ The evolutionary fates of gene duplications includes: Subfunctionalization: split ancestral functions across duplicates. Neofunctionalization: gain of new roles, which is vital for innovation. Pseudogenization: loss of function. A classic case is the globin gene family: duplications enabled the evolution of h... Read more
MUTATIONAL SIGNATURES IN CANCER GENOMES π️ October 11, 2025 “πππ ππππ ππ π π ππ§ππ£πͺ ππππππ£ π‘π£π π§ππππ€ π ππππ π π ‘ππ£πππππ ππ πππππ π£πππ π£π,’ π¨π£ππ₯π₯ππ ππ π₯ππ π»βπΈ ππ ππ ππ₯π€πππ, π π π₯ππ ππ©π‘π π€π¦π£ππ€ π₯πππ₯ πππ¦π€ππ π₯ππ ππ¦π₯ππ₯ππ ππ€ π₯πππ₯ ππππ π₯π π₯ππ ππππππ£.” - Sir. Mike Stratton 𧬠Cancer arises from the accumulation of somatic mutations, each carrying clues about the biological and environmental forces that shaped the tumor’s evolution. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing and large-scale projects like TCGA and ICGC, we have uncovered distinct mutational signatures; recurring patterns of DNA alterations that reflect specific mutagenic processes. πΉ What are mutational signatures? They are characteristic patterns of nucleotide substitutions, insertions, or deletions, shaped by mechanisms such as aging, tobacco exposure, UV light, or defective DNA repair. For example, Signature 1 correlates with age-related deamin... Read more