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Anatomy

Patrick Dempsey will be back on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’… again – The Star Online

Grey's Anatomy has been tackling coronavirus for the entirety of Season 17, and although the pandemic has inspired intense storytelling that mirrors the real state of the world, the medical drama also had a major boost of brightness recently with the return of Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shepherd.

The beloved character, who was killed off in Season 11 after a fatal car crash, appeared in Meredith Grey's (Ellen Pompeo) dreams, as she was fighting Covid-19 from her hospital bed.

Shepherd, better known as "McDreamy," surprised fans with the appearance earlier in the season, showing up on a beach in Meredith's dreams.

But, good news for "Grey's Anatomy" fans: McDreamy will be back again.

"You will see McDreamy again in the back half of the season," says showrunner Krista Vernoff.

Other than confirming Derek's return in the episodes airing in 2021, Vernoff is staying mum on who else might make an appearance.

But she is hopeful to recruit more of the actors who used to star on the medical drama, which has seen a number of characters die over the past 17 seasons.

"We all have hopes, but we don't have anything new to report yet," Vernoff adds.

When asked specifically about Eric Dane's character, Mark Sloan, otherwise known as "McSteamy," one of the all-time fan-favourite characters in Grey's Anatomy history who was killed in a plane crash at the beginning of Season 9, Vernoff laughs,"You can ask, but I can't answer!"

Will fans be able to see McSteamy (Eric Dane, left) as well this season?

At the time of Dempsey's return, social media erupted with excitement, and a screenshot from IMDb.com was floating around Twitter, circulated by fans.

The image appeared to show that many former Grey's actors including Katherine Heigl, Sandra Oh, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Sara Ramirez and more were billed as part of the current season, causing fans to theorise that those characters would possibly show up in Meredith's dreams.

Vernoff has seen the screenshot on social media, but says the information is incorrect.

"My stepson sent me that picture, and my answer was, 'Oh my god! I wish!' But no," Vernoff says.

"No, no, that's not that was some glitch on IMDb."

With a laugh, she lovingly pokes fun at the show's devoted audience, adding,"Debbie Allen said to me, 'They're so greedy! You just gave them McDreamy!'"

Grey's Anatomy is the longest-running medical drama in television history, having surpassed ER.

The show has not been renewed for an 18th season yet, though it remains one of ABC's top-rated shows, a stunning victory for any series, let alone one so far along in its TV life.

Creator Shonda Rhimes has said on multiple occasions that she will end the show whenever Pompeo is ready to call it quits.

Pompeo, who serves as a producer, has starred as the show's titular character since it premiered in 2005.

Her contract is up this year, but earlier this fall Pompeo told Variety that no one knows when the show will sign off.

"We don't know when the show is really ending yet. But the truth is, this year could be it," Pompeo recently said.

"I'm constantly fighting for the show as a whole to be as good as it can be. As a producer, I feel like I have permission to be able to do that. I mean, this is the last year of my contract right now. I don't know that this is the last year? But it very well could be."

The doctors and nurses at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital Grey's Anatomy have been tackling coronavirus.

During an interview about last night's midseason finale, when asked about the future of the show, Vernoff also said she was unsure when Grey's Anatomy will ultimately end.

"'I don't know' is the honest answer," Vernoff says. "I don't know. And so, I planned a phenomenal season, and I've planned what can be a season finale or what could be a series finale."

"I never really believe it's really over until everybody sits me down they're all going to have to come together and sit me down and tell me it's really over," Vernoff continues.

"But you always have to plan for both contingencies.

"We have a plan for how the season is going to end, and I feel really good about that plan, but I will say that at this point in any given season, we usually have a plan for where the season is going to end and it doesn't always end where we think it will. So, you never know." Reuters

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Patrick Dempsey will be back on 'Grey's Anatomy'... again - The Star Online

Anatomy

Surgeons in Ireland mistakenly operated on the wrong side or incorrect anatomy 63 times since 2017 – Irish Mirror

Surgeons have mistakenly operated on the wrong side or incorrect anatomy 63 times since 2017, HSE figures revealed.

Cases included the removal of a boys healthy left kidney instead of his poorly functioning right at Our Ladys Childrens Hospital in 2008.

Records show the number of wrong-site procedures increased in each of the past three years, from 15 in 2017 to 22 last year.

The Irish Patients Association has demanded an explanation for the rise in wrong-site surgeries, which are categorised as never events because they are wholly preventable and should not happen.

Spokesman Stephen McMahon said: The actions required to minimise the chance of a wrong leg or organ being operated on are known, and the increase in these events must be explained by those who are responsible. A further seven botched surgeries were recorded in four public hospitals in the first 10 months this year.

The data does not include voluntary hospitals, which are not owned by the State but are predominantly funded by the HSE. With eight since 2017, Cork University Hospital saw the most wrong-site surgeries.

Seven were recorded at Our Ladys Hospital in Navan in the same period, while six occurred at Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore.

Fewer than five wrong-site surgeries were performed at 17 other facilities including University Hospital Galway, University Hospital Limerick, Letterkenny University Hospital, and St. Lukes General Hospital in Kilkenny.

Cork University Hospital and Our Ladys Hospital in Navan, recorded at least one botched op in each of the years between 2017 and 2020.

The data was extracted from the National Incidents Management System, which is hosted by the State Claims Agency.

It was released by the HSE under freedom of information laws.

A spokeswoman for the HSE said systems were in place to identify, manage and address incidents that arise in delivering healthcare.

She added: All incidents are identified, reported and reviewed so learning from events can be shared to improve the quality and safety.

Services are continually engaged towards identifying areas where incidents are likely and putting in place systems to prevent or reduce the likelihood of the risk of occurrences.

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Surgeons in Ireland mistakenly operated on the wrong side or incorrect anatomy 63 times since 2017 - Irish Mirror

Embryology

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Fertility Sector – BioNews

21 December 2020

'What a year it's been!' With this statement, Sarah Norcross, director of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) opened the charity's annual conference 'Fertility, Genomics and COVID-19' on 9 December which, for the first time in its history, was online via Zoom.

She spoke about how the COVID-19 pandemic has 'affected the lives of all of us', and this was inevitably the unexpected theme of this year's conference. The plus side of holding a virtual conference was that half of this year's speakers were able to attend from overseas, said Norcross, speaking from her kitchen. She added that this year she did not have to worry about the conference catering, or queues for the loos, but rather whether delegates would hear the sound of her husband putting the kettle on.

Norcross also announced the appointment of Professor Dame Lesley Regan as a new patron of PET (which publishes BioNews).

The first session 'The Impact of COVID-19 on the Fertility Sector', chaired by Norcross, heard from three heavyweights and chairs of different organisations.

First to speak was Sally Cheshire, chair of the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and interim chair of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS).

The UK regulator will reach its 30-year anniversary in 2021, and she examined the role of the HFEA and how it has and will regulate fertility services through the pandemic and beyond. Cheshire said that fertility clinics in the UK shut their doors for the first time in 30 years on 15 April this year, in response to the Government's directive. 'It was the most challenging decision we had to make in 30 years,' she said.

Patient safety was paramount. And with this in mind, clinics stopped new treatments from 23 March, though fertility preservation treatments (eg for patients undergoing chemotherapy) have continued throughout the pandemic. Other issues that the HFEA had to consider with the upheaval caused by COVID-19 and lockdown included the 10-year storage limits for gametes, and patients who were approaching the cut-off age of fertility treatment on the NHS.

At the height of the pandemic in the spring, NHS fertility staff including anaesthetists and nurses, as well as laboratory testing equipment were turned over to help tackle COVID-19. In the private fertility sector, many staff were furloughed and the industry lost millions of pounds. She said there are normally about 6000 IVF cycles worth 30 million in one month alone.

'The worries about whether these businesses would survive were real ones,' Cheshire told delegates. Additionally, staff 'were undergoing what everybody else' was, with sickness and the loss of colleagues and loved-ones to COVID-19.

For patients there were many questions about treatment and waiting lists. Cheshire said that the technical NHS term 'non-emergency' applied to fertility treatments provoked some anger among patients on social media. Patients' worries about the 10-year storage limit for gametes were addressed by the UK government with a two-year extension given to those affected by the pandemic (see BioNews 1040).

The fertility sector was the earliest sector to reopen on 11 May, said Cheshire. Many adjustments have been made, including in the HFEA's own processes such as the video assessments of clinics.

On a different note, she said the HFEA has extended its own strategy to 2024, and are in discussions on changes to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act. But Cheshire cautioned: 'Warnock two might be a long way off.'

Following on from this, Dr Jane Stewart gave her clinician's perspective on the pandemic. Chair of the British Fertility Society, Dr Stewart made it clear that she was speaking from her experiences as head of the Newcastle Fertility Centre.

She said her Trust already had a pandemic policy in place. So when the Government directive came to close all centres: 'There was no time for panic, we had to start planning.' All elective and non-emergency work was stopped, staff redeployed, and many worked from home.

'Patient communication was an enormous part of it,' she said. 'We didn't always get that right but certainly it was a priority for us.'

Once their clinic reopened, they re-established appointments via phone calls or video-link, and would bring patients in separately for their physical assessments. 'We scrutinised all treatment protocols to reduce the number of visits,' said Dr Stewart.

She welcomed the vaccine news on COVID-19, as 'things beginning to turn a corner'. However, she also noted that a 'big dilemma' would be coming up for fertility patients as there is no data on use of the vaccine in pregnant women, so it is currently not advised in this group.

'Hopefully, there will be some discussion around this,' she said.

Dilemmas were the focus of the next speaker, Julian Savulescu, professor of practical ethics at the University of Oxford and director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. 'IVF, in general, is a playground of ethical issues with many questionable policies and regulatory issues,' he said.

He shared some of his work on ethics and COVID-19, reflecting on how this might be applied to dilemmas in fertility treatment.

'It seems to me that the challenges facing people with infertility are the challenges facing all of us during the pandemic,' said Professor Savulescu.

These include the trade-offs between liberty and wellbeing, in particular, that of the infertile versus the health of the elderly; policies of selective restriction of freedom; and in the allocation of limited resources, how we balance equality versus utility. The comparisons were particularly pertinent in how limited resources such as ventilators, vaccines or IVF are allocated.

The principle of equality or egalitarianism is 'equal treatment for equal need' (one of the NHS's basic principles), which means that factors such as potential length of life gained and the probability and quality of survival would be ignored in allocating resources.

Healthcare decisions based on utility or utilitarianism allocate according to what will bring the greatest benefit. This approach would take into account for example, the quality and predicted length of survival when allocating a ventilator to a COVID-19 patient.

Many governments use QALYs (cost per quality-adjusted life year) which estimate how much benefit is gained for the cost, to make healthcare utilitarian decisions. Professor Savulescu noted that for the UK's pandemic lockdown response, the QALYs were 'enormous'. He said that the prioritisation of IVF inside and outside the pandemic is a massive value assumption depending on how you value the life of a subsequent child (IVF calculations do not typically include QALYs for the child).

While the UK did not use utilitarian decision-making in pandemic allocations, for example NICE and the Intensive Care Society used frailty rather than QALYs to allocate ventilators, such principles guide some IVF allocations. For example, an IVF age-cut off that 'may well' also breach the UK's Equality Act 2010. Likewise, in Australia, BMI limits are placed on IVF.

Professor Savulescu noted contestable ethical issues arising from the pandemic itself. Early on in the pandemic it became apparent that the disease primarily kills the elderly, he said.

Modelling by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in November suggested the chance of someone aged 20-49 dying from COVID-19 lay somewhere between 7 in 100,000 and 2 in 10,000. He said the chances of a person in this age group the IVF patient age group, dying in a car accident are 1 in 10,000.

With such a low risk, the primary reason for stopping IVF during the pandemic is to prevent transmission. 'Then the issue is can we use PPE to prevent transmission?' asked Professor Savulescu.

He wrapped up by saying that patients with infertility have been a low priority whose 'liberty has probably been excessively restricted' and raised questions about them being given greater priority now.

As usual with PET events, the second half of the session was given over to audience questions. Cheshire was asked about the potential to reopen the HFE Act to bring it up to date. She agreed that it would be beneficial to review some areas, but acknowledged that Parliamentary time is likely to be taken up with COVID and Brexit. One of the areas she and Dr Stewart spoke about was the extra level of confidentiality surrounding fertility treatment, meaning that it does not appear on a patient's medical records, and how these restrictions put patients' lives at risks due to hiding information about patient care outside the hospital patient management systems.

PET would like to thank the sponsors of its conference - the Anne McLaren Memorial Trust Fund, the Edwards and Steptoe Research Trust Fund, ESHRE, Wellcome, the European Sperm Bank, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the London Women's Clinic, Merck, Theramex, Vitrolife and the Institute of Medical Ethics.

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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Fertility Sector - BioNews

Embryology

‘Survivor’s’ Candice Woodcock, John Cody Respond to Twitter Haters – Heavy.com

TwitterJohn Cody and Candice Woodcock Cody of 'Survivor: Blood vs Water'

Last week, Survivor couple Candice Woodcock Cody and John Cody revealed that they are 35 weeks along with their third child. They are due in mid-January and are waiting to be surprised as to the sex of the baby.

But what drew Twitter users ire is the fact that Woodcock Cody posted a photo of herself receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. While most followers simply offered congratulations, some expressed concern about a pregnant woman getting vaccinated and others became downright abusive about it. Heres what you need to know.

Many responses were positive, including one Twitter user who wrote, I have my appt tomorrow for a vaccine Im 23 weeks pregnant and a Registered Nurse ! Thank you for your post it makes me feel better about my decision to get vaccinated.

Another wrote, Youre incredibly brave. Not just for working in your job for months already, but for being among the first to try a new vaccine, and for being willing to show it on this platform. #staystrong #itsyourdecision.

But many people blasted the couple for either endangering their unborn child or being bribed to act like there is a vaccine when there isnt one, perpetuating conspiracy theories about the vaccine being fake. The reason they thought the photo was faked was because of the angle of the safety needle cap however, the cap was in the right place. When a shot is being administered, it is supposed to be off to the side at a right angle.

They are pieces of Filth!!! The needle is not in her arm! Just look closely! This is Propaganda & should be held LIABLE! Criminal & Civil. Its just unbelievable! Data is for ALL who can read. MD = Drug Dealer NOT a healer! They never cured even the common cold/Flu. Makes me [angry emoji], wrote one user.

Another wrote that she prays this is fake, and a third wrote, The cap is still on. Just like all the others. They are clearly telling you there isnt gonna be a vaccine. Wake up for f*** sake.

For the record, according to the Center for Disease Control, there are two approved and recommended vaccines, one from Pfizer-BioNTech and one from Moderna. There are two others that are in their clinical trial phase, one from AstraZeneca and one from Janssen.

Woodcock Cody is an anesthesiologist, which one commenter thought meant she wasnt a medical doctor, but she is that is a specialty and she practices at the Virginia Health Center in McLean, Virginia. Cody is former Army physician and current orthopedic surgeon at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Cody responded with a Twitter thread explaining how both the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists feel that even though there havent been studies done on pregnant women, the benefits of the vaccine outweigh potential risks and are unlikely to negatively affect pregnant women.

In a joint statement made with several other pregnancy and fertility organizations, the ASRM and ACOG wrote, It is especially important that certain eligible patient populations, including pregnant women, consult with their trusted physician when considering whether to take the vaccine.

Basically, it is up to the patient and their doctor about choosing whether to vaccinate. The CDC says that the patient and healthcare provider should consider the likelihood of the patients exposure and risks the virus would pose to their fetus. While the FDA cannot officially recommend the vaccine to pregnant women because there is a lack of data, the CDC believes that because the vaccine contains no active virus, it is unlikely to pose a risk to pregnant women.

For the Codys, they feel that based on Woodcock Codys level of risk as a healthcare worker, it was necessary that she be vaccinated.

Cody wrote, Recently, ACOG and the @ReprodMed recommended that the COVID vaccine be offered to pregnant and lactating women, based on their individual level of risk The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain NO active virus, and they did not rely on any aborted fetal tissue for viral culture or reproduction like some have inaccurately suggested. No, we are not paid actors. Yes this is real. No it is not propaganda. We are both physicians that make $0 from pharma. As a full time anesthesiologist, @CandiceCodyMD must take risks with her health when she cares for COVID patients. It is a very high risk specialty. At 35 weeks, the baby is nearly full term with only growth and fat production, and some lung maturation left to occur. Some of you Twitter scientists need to review your embryology a little bit before you spit fire at people that deeply understand this process.

There is no word yet on when Survivor will be back on the air. There is talk about the production team filming three seasons this spring so that they can air one in the summer of 2021, one in the fall and then one in the spring of 2022.

READ NEXT: A Survivor Legend Got Caught Smuggling Food During the Family Visit

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'Survivor's' Candice Woodcock, John Cody Respond to Twitter Haters - Heavy.com

Genetics

A Tiny Difference in Genetics is Good News for Salmon Conservation – The Triplicate

Biologists and anglers alike have long considered spring and fall run Chinook salmon to be different animals due to variations in fat content, maturity and appearance. But a recent study sheds new light on how Chinook (or king) salmon are genetically quite similar and why this may help the native salmon population in the Klamath River.

In a recent study published in the journal Science, HSU Fisheries Biology Professor Andrew Kinziger, HSU graduate student James Hearsey, and their colleagues from NOAA, UC Santa Cruz, and Colorado State University compared billions of DNA bases, the DNA building blocks (e.g., A, T, C, and G), in spring and fall Chinook salmon to see where they differed. To their surprise, they found a minute variation between spring and fall salmon on chromosome 28, in a single small region, known as the Region of Strongest Association or RoSA, that determines when fish migrate upriver.

Our result was extraordinary because we expected the genetic underpinnings to involve many genes, each with a small effect, but what we found was incredibly simple a single small genomic region that determines whether the fish migrates in spring or fall, says Kinziger. Its a total win for conservation.

The findings provide strong evidence that spring and fall Chinook salmon are a single species, despite clear differences in run-timing, fat content, size, and spawning locations.

To expand their data set, the researchers partnered with the Yurok Tribe to analyze the genetics of a Chinook salmon fishery in the Klamath River estuary. They found that the RoSA could be used to almost perfectly predict the date Chinook salmon enter the Klamath River, with a cut-off date of about August 1. The research highlights the strong role of genetics.

Each Chinook salmon inherits two genetic variants (or alleles) from their parents. Chinook salmon that possess two copies of the early allele (EE homozygous) all enter the Klamath River before August 1, whereas those with two copies of the late allele (LL homozygous) enter after this date. Individuals that are a mix of both genotypes (EL heterozygous) had intermediate migration times. It follows that if two heterozygous parents were to mate their offspring would be a mixture of EE homozygous (spring), LL homozygous (fall), and EL heterozygous individuals.

Just like in humans, where brothers and sisters can have different colored eyes, a pair of Chinook salmon parents could produce offspring that are a mixture of spring and fall fish, explains Kinziger.

The research has put a spotlight on the importance of migration run timing as the key trait that defines spring and fall salmon. The data from the study shows that the RoSA genotype explains 85% of the variation in salmon migration patterns.

Kinziger explains that the studys findings could have a profound impact on future conservation projects to restore salmon runs on the Klamath River.

Chinook salmon are currently divided into 17 groups for conservation; nine of these are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Klamath River is home to one of the largest Chinook salmon runs on the west coast and supports important commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries.

Over the past 100-150 years, Chinook salmon runs on the Klamath have declined precipitously due the construction of dams, overfishing, and habitat degradation. Spring Chinook salmon have been the hardest hitthe upper Klamath River population is extinct, and the number of adults returning to wild areas in other parts of the Klamath River is estimated at 100s-1000s fish, with additional supplementation from hatcheries.

But Kinziger explains that their recent study indicates that spring-run Chinook salmon are potentially less threatened than scientists had thought. By surveying thousands of Chinook salmon from northern California and southern Oregon, the researchers found that the early allele was widespread in salmon populations with suitable habitat.

An important repository of the early allele in the Klamath Basin is the Trinity River Hatchery, which releases millions of spring Chinook salmon every year. Over time, hatcheries have come to be seen in a negative light, however, in this case the Trinity River Hatchery appears to have played a role in retaining the early allele in the Klamath-Trinity Basin, says HSU Professor Emeritus David Hankin, who has worked on salmonid management for over 35 years. I think we can chalk that up as a positive impact of hatchery operations.

The study also reframes the outlook for restoring spring-run salmon to the upper Klamath River where four impassable dams are slated for removalone of the largest habitat restoration efforts in history. Among the many groups who have advocated to let the Klamath River run wild again, the Yurok Tribe stands to see their way of life restored with the return of native salmon runs.

A big question remains in how to bring back spring salmon to the upper Klamath River, once the dams are removed. The new research may provide guidance, explains Kinziger.

The researchers found that the descendants of extirpated Klamath River spring Chinook salmon are still present, suggesting that a historically accurate replica of the spring-run might be regenerated in the Klamath. Once suitable habitat exists in the upper Klamath, the researchers believe that the early allele can repopulate naturally; alternatively, fisheries management programs could jumpstart the process with help from hatcheries by stocking fish with the early allele in the upper Klamath population.

Our findings provide a new perspective and offer paths for achieving this incredibly important goal that means so much, environmentally and culturally, to the North Coast, says Kinziger.

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A Tiny Difference in Genetics is Good News for Salmon Conservation - The Triplicate

Genetics

How do we feed a growing population in a changing climate? – The John Innes Centre

Every minute the world loses 23 hectares of arable land, yet every day there are 160,000 more mouths to feed.

We take for granted an abundance of affordable produce year-round, but it comes at high cost to wildlife and soil due to high-intensity agricultural practices.

As such, we must secure and increase yields in a sustainable way if we are to supply enough food to feed the world. But, how do we feed a growing population in a changing climate?

One potential part of the solution is to develop resilient crop varieties. This of course raises another question; how can we achieve this increased resilience in crops?

New John Innes Centre Group Leader Dr Sanu Arora is working on just that, so we asked her what her group will be doing?

The focus of my research lab is to explore the natural diversity of the Pisum (pea) species for environmental resilience.

Pea is an important place to start because the demand for pea protein is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years, but that is at odds with peas highly volatile yields.

There are many factors causing this yield volatility, such as biotic and abiotic stresses and sub-par agronomic potential. My group will work towards understanding the genetic basis underlying these stresses, with the objective of achieving yield stability.

Well start by looking for genetic sources of resistance to devastating diseases of pea (root rots, powdery and downy mildews) against which the current control strategies are not particularly effective.

Wild pea relatives and landraces are more resilient to changing environment because of their inherent diversity; this is in contrast to the modern crop varieties which went through a genetic bottleneck during domestication followed by intensive breeding.

Before being given the opportunity to start my own group on a Ben Gill Translational Fellowship funded by the John Innes Foundation, I was a Postdoctoral Scientist in the Dr Brande Wulff lab. While there, I developed a new method, dubbed AgRenSeq, to tap into the genetic diversity of crop landraces and wild relatives for disease resistance. This method combines association genetics with resistance gene enrichment sequencing on a genetically diverse panel.

I demonstrated the efficiency of AgRenSeq by cloning four stem rust resistance genes from a diversity panel of Aegilops tauschii, the D genome progenitor of bread wheat. Ill continue this project within my new group, helping make it a smooth transition.

Subsequently, this approach has been adapted to other crop diversity panels, including Watkins wheat landrace collection and now the John Innes Centres own Pisum collection.

Before joining the John Innes Centre, I studied for my my PhD at the Punjab Agricultural University in India. My PhD project explored the genetic diversity present in Ae. tauschii for agronomic and nutritional traits. It was during my PhD that I first realised the enormous potential of the wild wheat relatives in wheat enhancement as well as the huge challenges in the way of tapping that potential.

Growing up in Punjab, India, I closely witnessed the transformative potential of science in agriculture as my region developed into the bread-basket of the country because of the Green revolution. Because of this, I have always associated science with its application in agriculture. Therefore, it is no surprise that I ended up as a crop scientist.

I feel fortunate to be working in crop genetics in this era, when we are on the cusp on another green revolution, which will be powered by the new genomic technologies.

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How do we feed a growing population in a changing climate? - The John Innes Centre

Genetics

Latin American Patients with Lung Cancer and Native American Ancestry See Increased EGFR Mutations – Cancer Network

Genomic and ancestry analyses published in Cancer Discovery revealed that among patients with lung cancer from Latin America, Native American ancestry was associated with increased mutations in the EGFR gene, independent of smoking status.1

Researchers indicated that these findings suggest that germline genetics, rather than environmental disparities, underlie these observed disparities.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality, both in the United States and globally, and understanding inherited risk factors for this disease may help us to identify populations that would benefit from increased screening efforts, Matthew Meyerson, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Cancer Genomics at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, said in a press release.2

To explore the landscape of somatic cancer mutation in lung cancers from Latin America and to evaluate the influence of germline ancestry of genetically amalgamated patient populations on these somatic alterations, the study investigators performed genomic analysis of 601 lung cancer cases from Mexico and 552 from Colombia, including 499 self-reported non-smokers. Next-generation sequencing targeting a panel of 547 cancer genes plus intronic regions of 60 cancer genes was used to identify single nucleotide variants (SNVs), indels, somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs), and gene fusions; importantly, this gene panel covered all currently known lung cancer drivers.

It was discovered that 48% of all samples harbored oncogenic mutations in EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, ERBB2, or MET, or fusions in ALK, ROS1, or RET. Moreover, 785 of 1153 samples harbored at least 1 detectable alteration in a broader set of known lung cancer driver genes also including TP53, STK11, KEAP1, SMARCA4, SETD2, MYC, and MDM2. The detected mutation frequencies of EGFR and KRAS were 30% and 10%, respectively, in the tested lung cancer samples from Mexican patients, and 23% and 13%, respectively, in the tested lung cancer samples from Colombian patients.

Using a new method developed by Jian Carrot-Zhang, PhD, and Alexander Gusev, PhD, ancestry analyses from the tumor samples was also performed in this admixed population of patients. Further, global ancestry analysis was performed to measure proportions of African, European, and Native American ancestry across the genome. In addition, local ancestry analysis was performed, which evaluates genetic ancestry at a particular chromosomal location.

After obtaining data on both somatic alteration and genetic ancestry, the next step for the researchers was assessing the correlation of these features. After adjusting for various factors, including self-reported smoking status and sample-specific tumor mutational burden, it was discovered that global Native American ancestry was positively correlated with mutations in the EGFR gene. Even further, the researchers determined that Native American ancestry was predominantly associated with oncogenic mutations in the EGFR gene, but not with non-oncogenic mutations.

Patients were then stratified by their self-reported smoking status and evaluated to determine the association between global ancestry and mutations in target genes. In both individuals who were never smokers and smokers, global Native American ancestry was found to be associated with mutations in the EGFR gene, indicating that the genomic differences associated with Native American ancestry are independent of smoking status.

Smoking increases the risk for KRAS-mutant lung cancers, while patients with lung cancer who are non-smokers more often develop EGFR-mutant lung cancer, Meyerson explained. However, we show in our study that EGFR-mutant lung cancer is also elevated among smokers with Native American ancestry.

Lastly, the investigators developed a local Native American ancestry risk score to assess the association of ancestry with EGFR mutation frequency across multiple distinct sites in the genome. In doing so, it was revealed that the correlation between ancestry and increased mutation frequency in the EGFR gene was stronger at the local genome level than the global genome level.

These results suggest that germline genetics in addition to environmental factors or socioeconomic status may have an influence on the risk of EGFR-mutant lung cancer among those with Native American ancestry, said Meyerson.

Many lung cancers are now treatable with targeted therapy or immunotherapy, Meyerson added. It is very important for patients with lung cancer to undergo somatic genetic testing to determine which treatments are most likely to be effective for their particular cancer.

Moving forward, the researchers suggested that future studies will still be necessary to comprehensively characterize lung cancer genomes from Latin American patients.

References:

1. Carrot-Zhang J, Soca-Chafre G, Patterson N, et al. Genetic ancestry contributes to somatic mutations in lung cancers from admixed Latin American populations. Cancer Discovery. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-20-1165

2. Native American Ancestry Associated With Increased Mutations in EGFR Gene Among Latin American Patients With Lung Cancer [news release]. Philadelphia. Published December 2, 2020. Accessed December 4, 2020.

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Latin American Patients with Lung Cancer and Native American Ancestry See Increased EGFR Mutations - Cancer Network

Genetics

Insights on the Animal Genetics Global Market to 2027 – Strategic Recommendations for New Entrants – GlobeNewswire

Dublin, Dec. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Animal Genetics - Global Market Outlook (2019-2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to this report, the Global Animal Genetics market accounted for $4.48 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $8.60 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period. Some of the key factors propelling the growth of the market are growing preference for animal protein, increasing population, and increasing adoption of advanced genetic technologies. However, the shortage of skilled veterinary research professionals is the restraining factor for the growth of the market.

Animal genetics is the study of heredity in animals. It includes the study of colour, genetics, gene expression, and animal breeding for a wide variety of applications and is primarily focused on the passing of traits from one generation to the next.

By live animal, the porcine segment is expected to grow at a significant market share during the forecast period owing to the large consumer base for pork meat, as well as growing penetration of advanced genetic research. Based on geography, North America is anticipated to hold considerable market share during the forecast period which is attributed to the research activities being carried out on animal genetics and the adoption of strategic activities by industry players.

Some of the key players in Animal Genetics Market include Animal Genetics Inc, Cogent, Crv Holding B.V., Alta Genetics Inc, Genus PLC, Neogen Corporation, Inguran LLC, Groupe Grimaud La Corbiere SA, Hendrix Genetics BV, Topigs Norsvin, Vetgen, Ew Group GmbH, Zoetis Inc, Envigo Inc, and Urus.

Live Animals Covered:

Services Covered:

Genetic Materials Covered:

End Users Covered:

What the Report offers:

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Preface2.1 Abstract 2.2 Stake Holders 2.3 Research Scope 2.4 Research Methodology 2.4.1 Data Mining 2.4.2 Data Analysis 2.4.3 Data Validation 2.4.4 Research Approach 2.5 Research Sources 2.5.1 Primary Research Sources 2.5.2 Secondary Research Sources 2.5.3 Assumptions

3 Market Trend Analysis 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Drivers 3.3 Restraints 3.4 Opportunities 3.5 Threats 3.6 End User Analysis 3.7 Emerging Markets 3.8 Impact of Covid-19

4 Porters Five Force Analysis 4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers 4.3 Threat of substitutes 4.4 Threat of new entrants 4.5 Competitive rivalry

5 Global Animal Genetics Market, By Live Animal 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Canine 5.3 Avian 5.4 Piscine 5.5 Poultry 5.6 Bovine 5.7 Porcine 5.8 Other Live Animals 5.8.1 Goat 5.8.2 Horse 5.8.3 Sheep

6 Global Animal Genetics Market, By Service 6.1 Introduction 6.2 DNA Typing 6.3 Genetic Disease Tests 6.4 Genetic Trait Tests 6.5 DNA Testing 6.6 Other Services 6.6.1 Forensic Testing 6.6.2 Prenatal Testing 6.6.3 Predictive and Presymptomatic Testing 6.6.4 Diagnostic Testing

7 Global Animal Genetics Market, By Genetic Material 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Embryos 7.2.1 Equine Embryos 7.2.2 Bovine Embryos 7.2.3 Other Animal Embryos 7.2.3.1 Porcine Embryos 7.2.3.2 Sheep Embryos 7.2.3.3 Goat Embryos 7.3 Semen 7.3.1 Canine Semen 7.3.2 Porcine Semen 7.3.3 Bovine Semen 7.3.4 Equine Semen 7.3.5 Other Animal Semen 7.3.5.1 Goat Semen 7.3.5.2 Sheep Semen

8 Global Animal Genetics Market, By End User 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics 8.3 Research Centers and Institutes 8.4 Diagnostic Centres

9 Global Animal Genetics Market, By Geography 9.1 Introduction 9.2 North America 9.2.1 US 9.2.2 Canada 9.2.3 Mexico 9.3 Europe 9.3.1 Germany 9.3.2 UK 9.3.3 Italy 9.3.4 France 9.3.5 Spain 9.3.6 Rest of Europe 9.4 Asia Pacific 9.4.1 Japan 9.4.2 China 9.4.3 India 9.4.4 Australia 9.4.5 New Zealand 9.4.6 South Korea 9.4.7 Rest of Asia Pacific 9.5 South America 9.5.1 Argentina 9.5.2 Brazil 9.5.3 Chile 9.5.4 Rest of South America 9.6 Middle East & Africa 9.6.1 Saudi Arabia 9.6.2 UAE 9.6.3 Qatar 9.6.4 South Africa 9.6.5 Rest of Middle East & Africa

10 Key Developments10.1 Agreements, Partnerships, Collaborations and Joint Ventures 10.2 Acquisitions & Mergers 10.3 New Product Launch 10.4 Expansions 10.5 Other Key Strategies

11 Company Profiling11.1 Animal Genetics Inc 11.2 Cogent 11.3 Crv Holding B.V. 11.4 Alta Genetics Inc 11.5 Genus PLC 11.6 Neogen Corporation 11.7 Inguran LLC 11.8 Groupe Grimaud La Corbiere SA 11.9 Hendrix Genetics BV 11.10 Topigs Norsvin 11.11 Vetgen 11.12 Ew Group GmbH 11.13 Zoetis Inc 11.14 Envigo Inc 11.15 Urus

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/z41eun

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Insights on the Animal Genetics Global Market to 2027 - Strategic Recommendations for New Entrants - GlobeNewswire

Genetics

Do Insiders Own Lots Of Shares In Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLGT)? – Simply Wall St

Every investor in Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLGT) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. I generally like to see some degree of insider ownership, even if only a little. As Nassim Nicholas Taleb said, 'Dont tell me what you think, tell me what you have in your portfolio.

With a market capitalization of US$1.1b, Fulgent Genetics is a decent size, so it is probably on the radar of institutional investors. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it seems that institutions own shares in the company. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Fulgent Genetics.

Check out our latest analysis for Fulgent Genetics

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

Fulgent Genetics already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Fulgent Genetics, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Fulgent Genetics. The company's CEO Ming Hsieh is the largest shareholder with 33% of shares outstanding. Han Gao is the second largest shareholder owning 7.3% of common stock, and BlackRock, Inc. holds about 6.5% of the company stock. Interestingly, the second-largest shareholder, Han Gao is also Chief Scientific Officer, again, pointing towards strong insider ownership amongst the company's top shareholders.

Our research also brought to light the fact that roughly 51% of the company is controlled by the top 4 shareholders suggesting that these owners wield significant influence on the business.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Fulgent Genetics, Inc.. It has a market capitalization of just US$1.1b, and insiders have US$451m worth of shares in their own names. That's quite significant. It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently.

The general public, with a 20% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

We can see that public companies hold 4.4% of the Fulgent Genetics shares on issue. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 5 warning signs we've spotted with Fulgent Genetics (including 2 which is are potentially serious) .

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. *Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.

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Do Insiders Own Lots Of Shares In Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLGT)? - Simply Wall St

Human Behavior

5 things to know about the new Covid strain spreading in the UK – CNBC

A notice informing people of 'Tier 4' coronavirus restrictions lights up a digital advertising screen on Oxford Street in London, England, on December 21, 2020.

David Cliff | NurPhoto | Getty Images

The U.K. has identified a new variant of the coronavirus that appears to spread more quickly, sparking fresh fears that the Covid-19 pandemic may continue to accelerate even as governments begin administering the first vaccine shots.

Scientists and infectious disease experts are still piecing together what they know about the new strain, called SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01, which is shorthand for the first variant under investigation in December 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It hasn't yet been detected in the U.S., but the CDC said it could already be circulating across the country unnoticed.

While the virus appears to transmit more easily, there is "no evidence" that the new variant makes people sicker or increases the risk of death, the CDC said Tuesday. The new coronavirus "mutates regularly," the CDC noted, but the overwhelming majority of mutations are insignificant.

More than 40 countries, not including the U.S., have now suspended transport links with the U.K. after the new variation of the coronavirus was found.France activated a 48-hour border closure Monday, and by Tuesday morning 1,500 trucks were stuck in Kent, unable to leave the U.K., British Home Secretary Priti Patel said Tuesday.

Here's what you need to know:

The World Health Organization said the mutation was found in 1,108 cases in the U.K. as of Dec. 13. However, that's likely an undercount since scientists need to run additional tests to confirm which strain of the virus a patient is infected with, including sequencing the genetic code.

The WHO said the variant was traced back to the county of Kent in southeast England where it was found on Sept. 20, based on a retrospective analysis.

It wasn't until October, though, that the variant began to spread rapidly throughout the region, the WHO said, adding that cases continued to rise at an unexpected pace through November, prompting an investigation and discovery of the mutation earlier this month. Between Oct. 5 and Dec. 13, more than 50% of the viral samples from southeast England that were sequenced were found to be the variant strain.

The U.K. has said the variant could be up to 70% more transmissible than the original strain of the virus.

Based on early data from the U.K., the new strain could "potentially be more rapidly transmissible than other circulating strains," the CDC said.

Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said Monday that U.K. officials estimate that the mutation has caused an increase in the reproductive rate of the virus from 1.1 to 1.5. That means that each person infected with the variant is estimated to infect another 1.5 people.

Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies program,said it was unclear if the increase in spread in the U.K. is because of the mutation or human behavior.

"We've seen an estimate of a small increase in the reproductive number by the U.K.," he said, meaning the virus is spreading faster, which could mean it is more contagious or spreads more easily in colder months. It could also mean people are getting lax about following public health protocols. "It remains to be seen how much of that is due to the specific genetic change in the new variant. I suspect some."

Officials in the U.K. are conducting epidemiological and virological investigations to determine whether the variant is more infectious, whether it causes people to become more sick, whether it can re-infect people who previously had Covid-19 and what kind of antibody response the new variant prompts.

The U.K. is also conducting genomic surveillance to understand the scope of spread of the new variant across the country. The U.K. has also placed affected areas under tier 4 restrictions, the strongest Covid rules in the country.

In the U.S., "viruses have only been sequenced from about 51,000 of the 17 million US cases," so the new strain could have slipped notice, according to the CDC.

The CDC launched a new program in November, the National SARS-CoV-2 Strain Surveillance program, to sequence more virus samples. It's supposed to be fully running in January where each state in the U.S. will send the CDC at least 10 samples every other week for sequencing and further study.

The WHO says laboratory studies are ongoing to determine whether the new virus has different biological properties or could alter vaccine efficacy. The mutations include changes to the spike protein that the virus uses to infect human cells.

Both Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccines, which have been authorized for use in the U.S. use messenger RNA, or mRNA, technology. It's a new approach to vaccines that uses genetic material in this case, a harmless piece of spike protein to provoke an immune response against the virus.

BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said Tuesday that he is confident the company's coronavirus vaccine with Pfizer will work against the new strain, but added but further studies are needed to be completely sure.

President Donald Trump's coronavirus vaccine czar, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, also said he expects Pfizer's and Moderna's Covid-19 shots will be effective against the new mutation.

Both vaccines induce an immune response against several structures found around the spike protein, the multifunctional mechanism that allows the virus to enter the host, Slaoui, chief science advisor to Operation Warp Speed, explained to reporters Monday during a press briefing. The chances one set of mutations would completely alter those structures "are extremely low," he added.

The CDC said Tuesday the new strain could already be circulating in the United States without notice.

"Ongoing travel between the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the high prevalence of this variant among current UK infections, increase the likelihood of importation," CDC said in a statement. "Given the small fraction of US infections that have been sequenced, the variant could already be in the United States without having been detected."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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5 things to know about the new Covid strain spreading in the UK - CNBC