Category Archives: Genetics

Genetics

Software tool built by U of T startup shares genetic data with COVID-19 researchers around the world – News@UofT

One of the most puzzling things about the novel coronavirus is how it affects people in such different ways.

Among a single group of very similar people of the same age, some who contract COVID-19 will be asymptomatic, others mildly ill, while still others will be seriously sick and some will die.

Marc Fiume doesnt know why this is the case. The University of Toronto alumnus is a computer scientist, not a medical researcher. But he does know what the scientists studying the virus and developing treatments need: a near-constant flow of information.

So he and his colleagues at DNAstack are adapting their health-oriented search engine technology to a new tool that offers shared genetic data about COVID-19.

What we know about the virus is changing hourly as researchers and clinicians accumulate and analyze data, says Fiume, who earned his PhD, masters and bachelors degrees from U of T. So we are deploying our technologies at DNAstack to support researchers investigating the virus.

Dubbed COVID-19 Beacon, DNAstack launched their new tool in late March. Its a search engine that scans and indexes genomic information about the virusshared by scientists from around the world, making it possible for users to share and discover knowledge about the genetics of the virus in real time.

Researchers can then use the information a mix of the viruss genome (a complete set of genes) and other biological data to see how the virus is changing as it moves through the global population.

By sharing this genomic information over a cloud-based global network, there is the potential to improve knowledge of COVID-19 at a speed and scale that isnt otherwise possible, Fiume says.

That will contribute to new ways to fight the virus, such as the development of a vaccine.

Fiume launched DNAstack with partner Ryan Cook in 2014. The startup received support and guidance from U of T Entrepreneurship. As Fiume told MaRS Magazine two years ago, the inspiration to start the company came from his best friend, Dan, who has cystic fibrosis. Genetic disease is actually a very common problem. If you talk to anyone, within one or two degrees of separation they have someone in their family, or someone close to them, whos affected by a genetic disease. But given the complexity of individuals genetic make-up, Fiume said he quickly realized that his field computer science would play an important role in the search for treatments for genetic ailments.

Since then, the startup has built software to facilitate collaborative biomedical research and has partnered with leaders in cloud computing, sequencing, software and security to form the Canadian Genomics Cloud to further research discovery. DNAstack has also embarked on a partnership with Autism Speaks to enhance the agencys research portal. Through the collaboration, DNAstack organized one of the largest collections of autism genomes in the world and made them more easily accessible and able to be analyzed by researchers.

DNAstack has demonstrated remarkable leadership in its innovative and collaborative approach towards finding a solution for COVID-19, says Sue Paish, CEO of Canadas Digital Technology Supercluster, a cross-industry collaboration of diverse organizations, including DNAstack, that aims to position Canada as a global leader in digital technologies.

The global opportunity to aggregate, track and share real-time data across medical communities has enormous potential to unlock a cure for the virus.

DNAstack is getting noticed and supported, too. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently mentioned the company in his April 21 announcement about the bold ideas being put forth by groups working with Canadas Digital Technology Supercluster. And the companys COVID-19 tool was one of the winning submissions in Roche Canadas Open Innovation Challenge, which called for solutions to the challenges of the pandemic.

COVID-19 Beacon is a first step in DNAstacks efforts to support the research community with cloud-based tools for conducting research on the novel coronavirus.

This service is intended to help share data on COVID-19 as broadly as possible and connect a global ecosystem of data generators and researchers, says Fiume. Were urging researchers who are interested in making data available through this service, or using it for analysis, to get in touch with us.

Fiume notes that scientists developing drugs and vaccines for COVID-19 are in a much stronger position today because of the increasing sophistication of technology.

The technology is so much better than it was even five years ago. We now have better tools for cloud computing, more mature standards for data sharing and better frameworks for machine learning and the technology keeps improving. We also have a better ability to understand genetics and translate that into precision medicines.

While the world waits for a vaccine to be developed, Fiume says DNAstack will do what it can to help researchers in their quest. Were trying to do our part to minimize the impact of COVID-19, he says.

There is so much that scientists dont understand about this virus. Our job is to get people the information they need, so we can find solutions and get people back to normal.

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Software tool built by U of T startup shares genetic data with COVID-19 researchers around the world - News@UofT

Genetics

Seattle Genetics’ bladder cancer med Padcev blows early expectations out of the water – FiercePharma

Even a pandemic cant slow Seattle Genetics new bladder cancer treatment Padcev downand analysts are jacking up their sales estimates for the drug as a result.

In its first quarter on the market after a mid-December FDA approval, the therapy blew out expectations exceeding consensus estimates" by four- to fivefold with $34.5 million in sales, J.P. Morgan analyst Cory Kasimov wrote in a note to clients.

Even SVB Leerinks Andrew Berens, whose Padcev sales projection wastwice as high as Kasimov's, noted that the drug handily beat our estimate of $10 million for the quarter, even in the midst of the pandemic.

Maintaining Momentum: Applying Recent Regulatory Guidance in the Midst of the Coronavirus

A panel of CATO SMS experts will review the key issues contained in the emerging Agency Guidance and offer thoughts on what changes and options for sponsors may be seen in the coming months.

And the performance was no fluke, either. While other drugmakers have seen their Q1 sales boosted by some stockpiling early in the pandemic, thats likely not what happened to Padcev, which follows a just in time delivery model that sees the drug delivered as-needed, Kasimov wrote.

RELATED:Seattle Genetics, Astellas snag quick FDA approval for bladder cancer fighter Padcev

Berens also cited assurances from SeaGens leaders that many of the patients who received Padcev in Q1 are still alive and receiving therapy. Management said it had no reason to believe this early adoption was driven primarily by a warehouse of end-stage patients which might have truncated duration of usage as has been seen with several other oncology drug launches.

If thats the case, many of these Q1 patients are likely to be on the drug in Q2 given the expected duration of treatment of about 4.5 months in this setting, Berens wrote, upping his 2020 target for the drug to $221 million and peak sales predictionin relapsed or refractory bladder cancer to $2 billion.

The thing is, SeaGen isnt stopping there. Its currently trying for a nod in previously untreated patients, an opportunity Berens pegs at $5.8 billion. And those SVB Leerink estimates dont even factor in potential revenue from earlier stages of the disease, such as muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), a sizable market the company is pursuing with a phase 3 trial testing Padcev alongside Merck immuno-oncology powerhouse Keytruda.

We estimate there are about 10,000 MIBC patients in the U.S., and the expected duration of therapy could be significant in these less advanced patients, Berens wrote.

But it wasnt all rosy news for Seattle Genetics in Q1, with Adcetrisuntil December its only approved drug, and a powerhouse with several indicationsnarrowly missing consensus estimates at $164.1 million.

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Seattle Genetics' bladder cancer med Padcev blows early expectations out of the water - FiercePharma

Genetics

Exploring the Ethics of Genetic Testing: What Does Consent Mean? – Technology Networks

As with any medical procedure, to undergo genetic testing, informed consent must be given.According to the National Institutes of Health, informed consent (in the context of genetic testing) is the process of making sure that, wherever possible, a patient fully understands:

With this information, a patient can make an educated, voluntary choice i.e. they are informed to a level such that they can provide consent. This is usually a legal and ethical requirement in medicine.Whilst this might seem like a relatively simple concept, for genetic testing, informed consent suddenly becomes a whole lot more complex. Bioethicists, experts in the ethical practice of biology and medicine, often use case studies to explore these complexities and to discuss potential solutions to the dilemmas arising from them.

Jodie is a 28-year-old woman who is thinking about having children. However, she has a family history of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and is considering undergoing genetic screening to determine if she is a carrier of any variants (a.k.a. mutations in her genome) associated with the disease.

Genetic Counselor Margarita Raygada, Ph.D., explains the role of a genetic counselor in cancer care and shares the benefits and implications of genetic testing for patients and their families.Genetic counselors are individuals educated in both medical genetics and counseling. This gives them the expertise to provide patients with the knowledge required to give consent, but also to offer guidance and support. As such, they are most likely the person who will be responsible for gaining informed consent from the patient.

Laura Hercher, Director of Research in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, has almost 20 years experience working as a genetic counselor. She emphasizes that the role of counseling goes far beyond testing alone:

Genetic counseling is about more than genetic testing. It can obviously be about that, and a genetic counselor would be a good person to discuss genetic testing with, but we meet with people where genetic testing isn't on the table at all.

I think that there is an element of education in many genetic counseling sessions or interpretation but also in many circumstances, theres what we call establishing a therapeutic relationship, where you do the counseling side of it.

Continuing on this theme, Hercher points out a key aspect of genetic counseling and something which is crucial to the consent process but often forgotten amongst the hype surrounding genetic testing.

We [genetic counselors] don't take for granted that somebody will want genetic testing. They have the right to say no these are shared norms in genetics in the UK and the US.

However, in Jodies case, she has expressed interest in genetic testing. How does a genetic counselor go about establishing informed consent for this?

You have to consider both of these two very basic things, Hercher begins. Make sure the person has an understanding of what genetic testing may tell them and also have an understanding of what genetic testing may not tell them.

These are very important to understand because, number one, you don't want someone to walk away from the experience saying, "Okay, great, I've been tested. I don't have a disease, if that isn't comprehensive.

Number two, we want to talk about what the test will show the patient, both in terms of setting up correct expectations that's consent but also by identifying additional things they might find out that are not necessarily the goals of testing.

The blood sample provided by Jodie undergoes whole exome sequencing. Upon sequence analysis, its found that Jodie does not have any of the variants currently associated with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. However, the person analyzing the data also checks for other common disease-associated variants. They discover that Jodie has a mutation in BRCA2 that puts her at a higher risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer.

The discovery described above is known as a secondary finding, meaning that whilst its identification may not have been the main goal of the test, its presence was actively sought. This is different to an incidental finding, although the terms are often used interchangeably.The potential for secondary findings demonstrates how consent in genetic testing isnt as simple as a single yes or no answer. The decision to actively look for other variants and have them reported back provides an additional layer of consideration to the consent process.

In 2013, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (AMCG) published recommendations for the responsible handling of incidental findings emerging from clinical exome or genome sequencing. This includes clinicians being responsible for alerting patients to the possibility that sequencing could result in incidental findings, and that these may warrant further investigation.1A proper informed consent for genetic testing would give the person a notion of what they might encounter as a part of testing, and what choices they have, about what [testing or results] they can get and what not to get, if there are choices available in the setting in which you're operating.

Jodie doesnt just have a decision to make about whether or not she wants the test, she also has to consider what results she would want reported back to her. The availability of choice is an important one because of the potential implications, both physically and mentally, of being given information you werent expecting or didnt want to receive.

Jodies results show that she, and potentially her first-degree relatives, are at a high risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer. Although it isnt a guarantee that she would develop those diseases, this knowledge could impact upon decisions she makes about her healthcare. For people carrying a disease-associated BRCA mutation, preventative, albeit drastic, surgical measures may be available, including mastectomies and oophorectomies.

Preventative surgery, or even just knowing that you may develop a disease can also take an emotional toll. In addition, a patient could find out that they have variation that means they will develop a condition at some point in their lifetime, such as Huntingtons disease. This may have an impact on mental health if there are currently very limited or no treatment options for the condition diagnosed, although further and continual research needs to be conducted to assess the extent of such an impact.

Secondary findings can also emerge with advances in research; a variant that may not have been considered a pathogenic variant before could be considered so in the future, or vice versa. Patients like Jodie would need to think about whether they would want to be re-contacted with new or updated information.

Thats a lot of factors for someone to consider before consenting. How can we simplify consent to account for all of those decisions and outcomes, if its even possible?

This requires time something which the healthcare system doesnt always have enough of. How do we create a process that works for both clinicians and patients?

The answers people are coming up with tend to be that we need better tools, Hercher tells me. And that includes online or digital tools that would allow people to interact with the information. You know, if you sit somebody down and spout off 15 minutes worth of information, dense information, you're not doing anything for them.

So, what's needed to improve the situation is new tools that allow people to tackle it over time, at their own pace, exploring what they want to and when. That would optimize the situation for both the caregiver and the patient. And allow them to go back to it [the information] to refresh their memory and so on. The optimal consent process is not "let's decide everything we can fit into this space of time consent, optimally, is an ongoing process.

Research conducted in the UK seems to agree. A recent report from the Joint Committee on Genomics in Medicine sums it up nicely:Consent may be more appropriately seen as an ongoing conversation that needs updating and clarifying where necessary, rather than as a single historical event that needs to be revisited.Reference

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Exploring the Ethics of Genetic Testing: What Does Consent Mean? - Technology Networks

Genetics

Genetic diversity in India’s lions is dangerously low, and that’s a big problem – Research Matters

Study traces the evolution of extinct and living lions through genes and provides hints for conservation.

Disneys 1994 animated film, The Lion King, immortalised the character Simba, a young lion cub, and intrigued many into the lives of lionsmajestic cats now restricted to only parts of Africa and India. It may be a surprise to learn that, not long ago, they were found all over the world! About fifteen thousand years ago, the cave lions of Eurasia, the American lions of North America, the Barbary lions of North Africa, the Cape lions of South Africa, along with todays lions, roamed the planet. Their extinction started with the cave lions about 14,000 years ago. In the last 150 years, humans have wiped off the Barbary lions and the Cape lions, hunting them to extinction.

Today, a curious question in science is to know how these different types of lions evolved and how different are todays lions from their ancestors. In a new study, an international team of researchers have tried to answer these questions by analysing the genes of extinct and living lions. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), finds that about 500,000 years ago, modern and now-extinct lions shared a common ancestor. Further, about 70,000 years ago, two different lineages of modern lions emerged. The findings also have implications on the conservation of the remaining lion population, which is just 10% of what it was a century ago.

Lions are absolutely a keystone species, and the health of lions generally reflects the health of the total ecosystem, says Dr Ross Barnett from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. An author of the present study, he has worked on cat genetics for years. Studying lions gives us an excellent big picture of general trends, he adds.

Most previous studies on understanding the evolution of lions used mitochondrial DNA that is present in the mitochondria of the cell and has limited information. In the current study, the researchers have used the complete DNA sequence, extracted from 30,000-year-old fossil samples, century-old samples and live individuals. These included the cave lions (Panthera leo spelaea), and modern lions (Panthera leo leo) found in Africa and India.

We looked at it from the whole genome angle. This allows us to get not only a robust answer on how the different populations of lions relate but also study the diversity in the remaining populations, says Dr Thomas Gilbert. He is a professor at the University of Copenhagen and a co-author of the study. The new results illustrate the power of the genomics in revealing lost secrets of prehistory by reading the DNA footprints of ancient and modern species, says another co-author Dr Stephen J. OBrien from Nova Southeastern University, USA.

The study found that until about half a million years ago, the cave lions, which lived in cold regions, and the modern lions, shared a common ancestor. This finding is consistent with other fossil evidence. Any evidence of a hybrid between cave lions and modern lions seemed to be absent. The modern lions split up into two distinct north and south lineages about 70,000 years ago, with Africa being a melting pot of these ancestries. The northern lineage, found north of the Sahara, includes lion populations from North Africa and West Africa. In contrast, the southern lineage includes sub-Saharan lions found in Central, East and South Africa.

Indian Lions: Genetically least diverse

Among the samples studied by the researchers were Asiatic lions from the Gir forests, the only home for wild Asiatic lions. The study, although traced the origins of Asiatic lions to the northern lineage, found that they shared a fifth of their genetic structure with the southern lineage. However, it found no evidence that these lions were recently introduced from outside India. But one of the most alarming findings of the study was how less the genetic diversity was among the Asiatic lions.

A family of Asiatic Lions in Gir [Image Credits: By Shubhammahla19 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0]

They are well known to be very inbred as the population is tiny, says Dr Gilbert. Their analysis found that the two samples of Indian lions were almost identical, with inbreeding as a result of dwindling numbers since the 18th century. By the 20th century, only twenty lions remained in the Kathiawar Peninsula in Gujarat. The risks are that there could be both an elevation of deleterious mutations in the population, and a lack of diversity in things like the immune system-related genes, warns Dr Gilbert.

These findings have enormous implications for the conservation of these charismatic lions across the world, and especially for the vulnerable populations in Gir.

In theory, it might be argued that theyd be at least biologically fitter if some genetic diversity was introduced. Possibly, from one of the other related populations outside India, explains Dr Gilbert. But scepticism galore. For one, lions in India are seen as the pride of the country and many would not want to see them polluted with non-Indian lineages.

Besides, such introductions of non-native species have had worse outcomes. For example, when new wolves were introduced on Isle Royale, in the US, to conserve the native ones, the previously inbred wolf population crashed.

Genetic studies, like the one here, can also stir up conversations on conservation.

If you want to help fix species in trouble, through management, you need to know what the population looked like originally to make informed decisions, says Dr Gilbert. These findings help at analysing the direct impact of the last 100+ years on the species and its genome. This ability did not exist before. For example, we see in the South African lions a very measurable loss of diversity during this time. We know humans impact the genetic diversity of species. Now, we can start quantifying it and maybe use that for future management, signs off Dr Gilbert.

This article has been run past the researchers, whose work is covered, to ensure accuracy.

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Genetic diversity in India's lions is dangerously low, and that's a big problem - Research Matters

Genetics

How To Interpret Genetic Predisposition For Weight Gain From DNA Kits – Women’s Health

Adriana Romero-Olivares signed up for 23andMe about seven years ago because she was curious about her ancestry. But the DNA testing company sends updated reports to its customers as it develops them, so in 2018, Adriana received an email notifying her that she had a new report available: a Genetic Weight report. She clicked, and it told her, Adriana, your genes predispose you to weigh about 9 percent more than average.

Learning that info was a strange pill for her to swallow. Ive struggled with my weight my entire life, says Adriana, 35. When I got the results, I felt validated, but then at the same time, I felt upset, because I struggle to accept the fact that I just can't be thin.

Over the past few years, DNA testing companies have started churning out reports like that one that specifically tell someone their likelihood of becoming overweight or obese. The thing is, getting bold text in your inbox that says you have a higher propensity to gain weight than the other people in your HIIT class can feel like a bit of a bomb, as Adriana points out.

So how reliable are these reportsand can they actually aid your efforts if you're trying to lose weight? Heres what experts have to say.

Just from pure observation, you can tell that theres a genetic component because you can look at families and see that weight gain runs in families, says Rachel Mills, a certified genetic counselor and assistant professor in the University of North Carolina-Greensboro Genetic Counseling Program. Beyond that, it gets more complicated.

Researchers dont have a firm answer in terms of to what degree being medically overweight or obese is influenced by genetics, compared to lifestyle and environmental factors. They've estimated that anywhere from 40 to 70 percent of person-to-person variability in body mass index (BMI) is due to genetic factors. (Obvious alert: Thats a wide range.)

And while researchers have already discovered hundreds of genetic variants associated with BMI, weve only got a partial picture of the genetic component so far, says Struan F.A. Grant, PhD, director of the Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Grant notes that BMI is a very polygenic trait, which means there are many, many genetic factors contributing to the trait, he explains. Each genetic variant could have a somewhat different effect on BMI, toothats something experts are still figuring out.

Just because a genetic report says that you are less likely to lose weight, that is not an absolute. Rachel Mills, genetic counselor

So what does it mean if a person has several genetic variants associated with obesity? Once we have a more complete picture of how genes drive obesity risk, we could eventually be able to get data (say, from our doctor) that helps guide how we approach weight management on a personal level, Grant says. But right now, all we definitely know is that certain genetic variants are more common in obese people compared to non-obese people.

23andMes Genetic Weight reports even explain right under your results that your predisposition doesnt mean you definitely will weigh more or less than average. 23andMe senior product scientist Alisa Lehman says that, in 23andMes model, the genetic component [accounts for] less than 10 percent of what the total difference in weight between any two people is. The company does extensive user testing before releasing reports that delve into new areas, she says. And, in this case, they wanted to make sure that customers have an understanding that genes are only one factor in weight management.

How businesses gather weight predisposition info varies company to company. For example, health-focused DNA testing and supplement company Vitagene and weight-loss platform Lose It! use results from other institutions research papers to internally calculate a persons risk of becoming overweight. (Lose It! also asks you to input your AncestryDNA or 23andMe raw DNA filesthe company doesnt do its own DNA testing.)

But 23andMe, arguably the most well-known service, uses its own data to come up with a persons weight predisposition. We have a research program that allows people to answer questions and then, from that, if they opt in, we can use their data to make new genetic discoveries, Lehman explains.

23andMe researchers released the Genetic Weight report in March 2017. They created it by looking at data from more than 600,000 research participants, including their DNA and self-reported height and weight. (Check out a sample report here.)

23andMe researchers found 381 variants associated with BMI, and used that info to create a modeling process that weighs certain variants more strongly than others and considers age, sex, and ancestry to determine the result they send to a consumer. "So when people provide us their saliva sample and we gather their DNA, we can look at those 381 places and say, 'Hey, okay, you have some variants that increase your predisposition and some variants that decrease your predisposition, and the magnitude of each of those variants differ a little bit,'" explains Lehman. "But we add up the effect of all of that to get a sense of whether your predisposition is to [weigh] a little bit more or a little bit less than average."

Depending on your ethnicity, there might also be another caveat. The largest population that 23andMe has data for is people of European descent, so researchers were only able to look at genetic and BMI data from people of European descent to identify the weight-related genetic variants and their effects. Then they looked at how well that model worked for people of other ethnicities, tweaking the model as necessary. Therefore, people who have Latino, African American, East Asian, and South Asian ancestry can get results that are somewhat customized to their ancestry, while people of mixed ancestry or other ancestries default to European. (This Eurocentric bias comes up in a *lot* of research that scans peoples genomes for genetic variants associated with a disease or trait, not just in relation to BMI.)

It doesnt appear that any companies that provide weight-related DNA results have conducted any formal research on how the info impacts peoples weight-loss efforts. Lehman says 23andMe has looked a little bit into whether the information in the Genetic Weight report has actually helped consumers with weight loss or management, but that they havent come up with anything "publication-worthy," adding that its challenging to untangle this report from other info the company provides on nutrition and exercise.

23andMe also hasnt taken a fresh look at their Genetic Weight report model since releasing it, but it plans to. We do periodically review all of the reports that we have, and Genetic Weight is coming up for that periodic review, so we will soon review it and see if any updates are warranted, Lehman says.

23andMes Health + Ancestry Service

This product includes a Genetic Weight report that tells you how much more or less than average your genes predispose you to weigh. It also explains that your predisposition doesnt mean you definitely will weigh more or less than average. Keep in mind that your lifestyle and environment have a big impact on your weight, the report reads.

HomeDNA Healthy Weight

This report tells you your general weight loss ability with diet and exercise. On a page explaining those results, the report reads: "Remember that these results only indicate your potential based on genetic factors, but many other factors also affect the outcome."

Lose It! Premium

Once you upload your AncestryDNA or 23andMe raw DNA file, this platform will tell you whether or not you have a genetic risk of being overweight or obese. In a disclaimer, the report says, These genetic variants are not perfectly predictive. You may have a high genetic score and a low BMI, or a low genetic score and a high BMI. These results may be more accurate for people of certain ethnic backgrounds.

Vitagenes Health + Ancestry DNA Tests and Reports

Customers can learn whether their genetics may make them more or less likely to become overweight with this kit. The info includes this caveat: However, your genetics alone dont define your body weight. Making healthy lifestyle choices may help keep you from becoming overweight. (Customers also have the option to upload their own raw DNA results for $29.)

Of course, some people might just like or even be motivated by having more information about themselves, and thats totally fair. But heres an interesting twist: A recent study out of Stanford University found that just knowing your genetic risk for obesity can impact the way you respond to food.

In one of two experiments, participants ate a meal and then, on a different day, ate another after hearing that they did or didn't have a high-risk genetic variant associated with obesity and lower satiety. Heres the catch: Researchers chose randomly whether participants would be told they had the genetic variant. (The researchers fully debriefed the participants about their actual genetic risk only about an hour later, while they were still under clinical supervision.)

We saw that the information we gave to people was like a self-fulfilling prophecy, says Brad Turnwald, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow in the department of psychology at Stanford University and lead author of the study. When researchers told people they didnt have an increased risk, they reported feeling full faster and even produced more of a fullness hormone. Overall, what we saw was that what people thought had as much of an impact, and in some cases a greater impact, than what peoples actual gene sequence was, Turnwald says.

The takeaway, says Turnwald, is that we need to better understand the psychological impact of these kinds of DNA test products. We're definitely not trying to say that genes don't matter at all. There are some diseases for which they really are predictive, he says. But for the majority of things like weight loss and how hungry we are and how well we exercisethings for which people are looking for explanations that they just weren't made to run or they just don't feel full based on their genesthe story is not going to be that simple.

Mills doesnt believe that its possible for any sort of calculation to exist at the moment that can accurately analyze a persons propensity to gain weight. If someone told her they were interested in one of these reports, she would ask them to think seriously about how you would use that information, Mills says.

I know, for me personally, I would see a report [that says I cant lose weight as well through diet and exercise] and maybe throw up my hands and be like, Well, Im just going to go to McDonalds because it doesn't matterno diet and exercise is ever going to help me lose weight, so why do I need to even try she continues. And that can have a really detrimental effect.

If someone has already received genetic weight report results and asked her how to interpret themor wants to know how damning they actually are, so to speakMills would emphasize this: Genetics is just one piece of the big picture, she says. Just because this genetic report says that you are less likely to lose weight, that is not an absolute.

Adriana is Mexican, and shes also a scientist, so she knows that she should take her reported propensity to be overweight with a grain of salt. She says her Genetic Weight report is one piece of information, an indicator that I tend maybe to gain weight or that my metabolism is not as fast as the average persons, she says. But shes not going to make major lifestyle changes based on it.

Over time, though, the report has had a positive effect on Adrianas mindset: The way that I think about it now is, if Im predisposed to weigh a little bit more than the average person, then I might as well just exercise and have a balanced diet for the sake of health and not necessarily for the sake of losing weight, which, for a very long time, was the main focus for me.

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How To Interpret Genetic Predisposition For Weight Gain From DNA Kits - Women's Health

Genetics

Instagram: How to get the Find Out Your Genetic Heritage Filter on Instagram and TikTok – HITC

Have you ever wanted to find out what your genetic heritage is? Well look no further, because now you can with Instagram's new filter. But beware, there's a twist!

It seems like there's one type of filter that is getting really popular on Instagram right now, as everyone is turning to the social media app as a way of finding out exactly what their true nationality is.

We've already had the Ethnicity Filter which has been making its way round Instagram for weeks, and now there's a new one to add to the mix.

The Genetic Heritage Filter seems the same as the Ethnicity Filter to begin with, but just you wait because it's actually really hilarious. And people are even turning the Instagram filter into a TikTok challenge as well!

What is the Genetic Heritage Filter?

The filter is one of Instagram's popular virtual reality filters. It begins by supposedly scanning your face in a very scientific way.

Then, it filters through lots of different nationalities, making you think it is going to stop on one of them.

But wait until the end because it's actually all a joke. The filter actually reveals your heritage to be of a certain animal, like a mole, a toad or a platypus, and then it warps your face so that you actually look like one!

Click on 'Your Story' at the top of your homepage.

Slide along all the filters to the last one, the picture of the magnifying glass.

Click on that and press the other magnifying glass in the top right hand corner to bring up the search bar.

Type the words 'Genetics Scanner' into the search bar.

Find the filter made by 'iamcraiglewis2'

Click on the filter and press 'Try it'.

Then place the filter onto your face and start recording to find out what your heritage is.

So Ive seen people doing the Genetic Heritage filter on Instagram and turning it into a Tik Tok so I thought I would try it to see the result... ##fyp

Lots of people are also now using the filter on TikTok.

Unfortunately, you can't actually get the filter on TikTok, and everyone is filming the video on Instagram, saving it and then uploading it to TikTok as a challenge.

Maybe TikTok will have its own set of virtual reality filters one day, but for now you'll just have to stick to Instagram.

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Instagram: How to get the Find Out Your Genetic Heritage Filter on Instagram and TikTok - HITC

Genetics

Genetics May Explain the Symptoms of Coronavirus – Science Market News

A dry cough. Loss of smell. Diarrhea. Fever. All of those have been thought-about attainable signs related to SARS-CoV-2 an infection, together with the whole absence of signs in any respect. Within the absence of an adequate testing capability, many areas in the US are being compelled to allocate their restricted assessments to solely those that appear to have COVID-19 signs. However, given the problem of figuring out which signs truly point out a probable infection, these are troublesome choices to make.

The bewildering array of signs additionally raises questions on why folks reply so otherwise to the identical virus. Determining what is going on within the midst of a pandemic is an unimaginable problem. Were going to try some preliminary studies about a method of doing sonot as a result of the outcomes are more likely to maintain up as extra analysis is available in, however, as a result of it reveals among the ways in which researchers are utilizing to attempt to perceive the viruss an infection.

At the moment, the CDC web site lists a variety of symptoms related to COVID-19. A few of these are what youd anticipate for a viral infection of the lungs: fever and chills, cough, shortness of breath, and a sore throat. However, there are additionally some much less apparent ones, like complications, muscle aches, and lack of a sense of scent.

Lists like these are sometimes ready by aggregating medical studies, as medical doctors take and replace an individuals signs as theyre admitted and handled. However, the lack of testing poses important issues for this effort. For one, were struggling to understand how many individuals have been contaminated without requiring medical care. The arrival of the pandemic was additionally coincident with flu season and the onset of seasonal allergy symptoms, which might produce an overlapping set of signs.

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Genetics May Explain the Symptoms of Coronavirus - Science Market News

Genetics

Here’s Why Seattle Genetics (SGEN) is a Great Momentum Stock to Buy – Yahoo Finance

Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Seattle Genetics (SGEN), a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Seattle Genetics currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?

In order to see if SGEN is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this biotechnology company holds up.

A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.

For SGEN, shares are up 6.7% over the past week while the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry is up 2.32% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 24.26% compares favorably with the industry's 16.35% performance as well.

Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Over the past quarter, shares of Seattle Genetics have risen 28.57%, and are up 111.52% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved -12.23% and -0.53%, respectively.

Investors should also pay attention to SGEN's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. SGEN is currently averaging 902,460 shares for the last 20 days.

Earnings Outlook

The Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with SGEN.

Over the past two months, 8 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost SGEN's consensus estimate, increasing from -$2.95 to -$2.87 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 6 estimates have moved upwards while there have been 1 downward revision in the same time period.

Bottom Line

Taking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that SGEN is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Seattle Genetics on your short list.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free reportSeattle Genetics, Inc. (SGEN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research

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Here's Why Seattle Genetics (SGEN) is a Great Momentum Stock to Buy - Yahoo Finance

Genetics

This is how you do the genetics heritage filter on Instagram that everyone’s doing – The Tab

Rogue Instagram filters have been a saving grace right now as were all quickly running out of things to do. The newest one that most people are loving is the genetics heritage scanner filter. This filter scans you and makes you think its going to tell you what percentage of a certain nationality you are, but then actually morphs your face into a weird human/animal creature.

This filter merges surprise, ugly faces and animals all in one the perfect combination to guarantee a laugh every single time, without fail.Get involved, then get your mum involved, then (for some real comedy gold) send to your grandparents and get them to make one. Its a great time and this is how you do it.

Its a filter on Instagram that pretends to scan your face at first a load of different nationalities flick past (Welsh, French, Italian, etc) as well as a percentage. At this point, youll think its just boring and slightly problematic but then suddenly it lands on 85 per cent pangolin and morphs your face into a messed up (but hilarious) animal shape. Like so:

There are a lot of different animals you can get. We dont know exactly how many but weve seen crab, mole, rat, dog, pangolin, slug, limpet, llama, wasp and chameleon.

The official name for the filter is genetics scanner and it was created by iamcraiglewis2. If someone on your Insta uses it, youll see the name of the filter in the top left corner, you can then click on this and save it.

You can also search for the filter on your phone. If you go onto your camera on Insta, scroll right through all the filters at the bottom until you find the search icon. Then search genetics and it will come up, save it onto your phone and youve got hours of fun right there.

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This is how you do the genetics heritage filter on Instagram that everyone's doing - The Tab

Genetics

Study of twins reveals genetic effect on Covid-19 symptoms – The Guardian

Symptoms of Covid-19 appear to be partly down to genetic makeup, researchers at Kings College London have discovered.

The finding is based on data collected through the Covid-19 Symptom Tracker app, launched by the team last month.

While members of the public are encouraged to use the app to track how they feel day to day, the team also asked thousands of twins in the UK, who were already part of another research project, to use the app and record whether they had symptoms or not. The team employed machine-learning algorithms, together with data from the 2.7 million app users many of whom have been tested for coronavirus to work out the combination of symptoms that indicate an individual is likely to have Covid-19.

The team then focused on data from just over 2,600 twins to try to establish whether the symptoms experienced by those predicted to have Covid-19 was related to genetic makeup.

The idea was to basically look at the similarities in symptoms or non-symptoms between the identical twins, who share 100% of their genes, and the non-identical twins, who only share half of their genes, Prof Tim Spector, one of the scientists leading the endeavour, told the Guardian. If there is a genetic factor in expressing the symptoms then wed see a greater similarity in the identical [twins] than the non-identical [twins] and that is basically what we showed.

The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, took into account whether the twins were in the same household, with the results revealing that genetic factors explained about 50% of the differences between peoples symptoms of Covid-19.

More specifically, the team found a substantial genetic influence for the symptoms of fever, diarrhoea, delirium, and losses of taste and smell. By contrast, a hoarse voice, a cough, skipped meals, chest pain, and abdominal pain were not linked to genetic makeup.

What is Covid-19?

Covid-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it has come from animals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic.

What are the symptoms this coronavirus causes?

According to the WHO, the most common symptoms of Covid-19 are fever, tiredness and a dry cough. Some patients may also have a runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion and aches and pains or diarrhoea. Some people report losing their sense of taste and/or smell. About 80% of people who get Covid-19 experience a mild case about as serious as a regular cold and recover without needing any special treatment.

About one in six people, the WHO says, become seriously ill. The elderly and people with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, or chronic respiratory conditions, are at a greater risk of serious illness from Covid-19.

In the UK, the National health Service (NHS) has identified the specific symptoms to look for as experiencing either:

As this is viral pneumonia, antibiotics are of no use. The antiviral drugs we have against flu will not work, and there is currently no vaccine. Recovery depends on the strength of the immune system.

Should I go to the doctor if I have a cough?

Medical advice varies around the world - with many countries imposing travel bans and lockdowns to try and prevent the spread of the virus. In many place people are being told to stay at home rather than visit a doctor of hospital in person. Check with your local authorities.

In the UK, NHS advice is that anyone with symptoms should stay at home for at least 7 days. If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home.

This disease is very weird, the way it has a very different presentation in the population in different people what we are showing is that isnt random, Spector said. It is not mainly due to where you live or who you have seen; a lot of it is something innate about you.

I think you can say that your likelihood of getting it at all, or getting it severely, is under some genetic control.

The team hopes the findings will help scientists ascertain the mechanisms by which Covid-19 acts on the body, as well as offering a possible way to predict those most at risk from the disease.

Understanding how symptoms of [the disease] Covid-19 pass through the population may indicate the pathogenic mechanisms of [the virus] Sars-CoV-2 infection, as well as offering utility in the allocation of scarce healthcare resources, particularly intensive care beds, the team writes.

They say the results could also help researchers around the world identify genetic variants that play a role in explaining why some individuals show no, or only mild, symptoms of Covid-19, which could in turn aid the development of drugs for the disease.

But there were other possible targets, Spector said, noting that genetics were closely linked to the immune system and microbes found in the gut.

It reassures everyone that it is worth exploring this whole triangle of genes, immune system and gut microbes, he said.

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Study of twins reveals genetic effect on Covid-19 symptoms - The Guardian