Genetics

Family faces multiple diagnoses for genetic condition NF1 – Sanford Health News

Theres a genetic condition which can start with simple birthmarks that one Sioux Falls, South Dakota, family knows well.

Its called neurofibromatosis type one or NF1 and it is a disorder that can cause tumor growth, vision problems and skin changes.

Rachel Li, M.D., specializes in clinical and pediatric genetics at Sanford Childrens.

Find pediatric specialists: Family-focused care at Sanford Childrens

It can begin with the development of caf au lait spots, which are brown birth marks across the skin.

Dr. Li said tumors can grow underneath the skin and along nerves, including the optic nerve in the brain.

A majority of the time, the tumors are not cancerous, Dr. Li told Sanford Health News. But when were talking about brain tumors, theres only so much space in there so we monitor those very closely. And then we can start treatment with medications if we start noticing changes associated with that.

She said while all genetic disorders are rare, NF1 affects 1 in around 3,000 to 4,000 patients.

Fifty percent of the time its a new finding in a family or patient without family history, and the other 50% its inherited from a parent or relative, she added.

Candice Hazel and Roland Marshalls youngest, Logan, had some unique birthmarks which led to a diagnosis in 2022.

But that diagnosis was just the beginning.

When I met Roland, he had four girls, Hazel explained. One of the girls had a lot of caf au lait spots and he said she was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis.

Coincidentally, Hazel was already receiving care for McCune-Albright syndrome which is associated with caf au lait birthmarks.

So when she and Roland noticed her son Logans birthmarks, she contacted her provider at Sanford Health, and the entire family of seven underwent genetic testing.

The results showed Logan, his dad Roland, and two half-sisters were all living with NF1.

Those with NF1 can have variable features or different symptoms, even with the same genetic change.

Its been a whirlwind with a lot of emotion and worry, especially with the risk for tumors and optic issues. As a parent, its scary, Hazel said. Were very lucky to have someone close to home who specializes in NF1 and who makes you feel comfortable.

In most cases, a pediatrician or other primary care provider can notice the first signs of the condition in a patients birthmarks.

Dr. Li said the clinical criteria includes two or more features but patients are evaluated with just one, including certain freckling on the arms or in the groin.

From there, the primary care provider can refer the patient and family to the genetics team and begin testing.

But its not always caught right away when a patient is young.

Its not uncommon for us to find a patient with NF1 but then Mom or Dad also has it, and we determine during a visit that the adult gets certain screenings and plugged in for care as well, Dr. Li said.

If a patient undergoes testing or meets clinical criteria for a diagnosis, they can be enrolled into the NF1 clinic.

Since 2022, the neurocutaneous clinic has been available for Sanford Health patients as the only multidisciplinary clinic in the Midwest for this rare genetic diagnosis.

We noticed there was a gap in care for our patients, Dr. Li said. They were all going to Mayo or Colorado, hours and hours away. We had all the services here available. So, we got together and said, I think we can start this clinic.

Theres definitely a large population of people who are really benefiting from getting all the care.

The Marshall family was among the first to participate in the clinic.

Logan was seen every six months early on and now everyone is seen once per year, Hazel explained. Its really helpful and convenient for us to have one place for our kids to get their care.

The clinic for patients with NF1, NF2 and tuberous sclerosis is a one-stop-shop for patients to see multiple providers with specialties in genetics, neurology, hematology and oncology, pediatric development, ophthalmology, as well as speech, physical and occupational therapies.

Theyre such a great family as far as just really following through with what needs to be done, making sure theyre getting their girls plugged in as much as possible, getting help with some of the school things that theyve come up with and seeing Logan grow up living his best life now, Dr. Li said.

The physicians and providers are so collaborative, and I think thats a really unique thing to find. Everyone is here to focus on what is best for patient care and for children. If that means creating an entirely new clinic for families, thats something theyre going to go forward and do. Its been a huge, huge benefit.

Posted In Children's, Genetics, Sioux Falls, Specialty Care

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Family faces multiple diagnoses for genetic condition NF1 - Sanford Health News

Genetics

Unique gene variants tied to glaucoma found in Black patients – Livescience.com

Scientists have uncovered two gene variants tied to the most common form of glaucoma by studying the population most affected by the blinding disease: People of African ancestry.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) occurs when the structure that normally drains fluid from the eye doesn't work properly. As a result, fluid builds up and damages the optic nerve, gradually leading to vision loss and potentially blindness, in severe cases. People of African ancestry have around a four to five times greater risk of experiencing POAG than those of European descent. They're also more likely to develop severe vision problems from the disease, due in part to the condition manifesting at earlier ages, on average, than is seen in those with European ancestry.

Having a family history of glaucoma is a major risk factor for the disease, meaning genetics play an influential role. Previous studies pinpointed more than 170 hotspots in the genome that may fuel glaucoma but most of the people in those studies were of European or Asian descent.

In the new study, published Thursday (Jan. 18) in the journal Cell, researchers looked for glaucoma-related genes in the DNA of nearly 11,300 people of African descent, then confirmed the genetic risk factors in four other large datasets. To the researchers' knowledge, this is the largest study to date on the genetics of glaucoma in people of African ancestry, said senior study author Dr. Joan O'Brien, director of the Penn Medicine Center for Genetics of Complex Disease.

Related: Weird 'gut-eye axis' links the retina and intestines, and may help explain glaucoma

"It's a very important study," said Dr. Terri Young, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who was not involved in the research. The study was well-designed and generated robust data, she told Live Science.

It is also the first comprehensive look at a demographic that's commonly excluded from genetics research but is most affected by this hereditary disease.

"That really has not been done before," Young said. "These clinicians and the patients should really be applauded."

A large portion of the study participants were enrolled through a multiyear genetics study in the greater Philadelphia area. The researchers found that partnering with a trusted Black-owned radio station WURD Radio helped spur enrollment. Surveyed participants often reported initial reservations about participating, due to past and current racial discrimination in the medical field. But they said they were motivated to enroll in order to access glaucoma specialists and to help improve health outcomes for other members of their community.

The team combined data from these Philadelphia residents with that of Black people from other states, as well as Africans from Nigeria and Ghana. In all, this initial dataset included more than 6,000 people with glaucoma and about 5,270 people without, for comparison. The analysis turned up 46 regions of the genome linked to POAG.

The researchers then checked their results by looking at genetic data from thousands of additional people of African ancestry, as well as data from people of European or Asian descent. In these analyses, three gene variants popped up as being the most important for POAG in people of African ancestry.

"Two of those were entirely novel," meaning they'd never been linked to glaucoma before, O'Brien told Live Science.

The researchers ran some early experiments to start to unravel how these genes affect the eye's function or structure, but on that front, there's more work to do, Young said. Future work could probe the function of these genes in different tissues of the eye in lab dishes, as well as in animal models of glaucoma, she said.

The researchers also developed genetic "risk scores" intended to flag people with raised odds of developing glaucoma. They trained one risk score-generator on data from people of African ancestry and another on people of European ancestry compared with the latter, the former was much more accurate at predicting when a person of African descent had glaucoma.

In the future, risk scores like these could help pinpoint which patients need to initiate or adjust their monitoring or treatment plans for glaucoma, ensuring they get treated promptly if they do develop the disease, Young said. Better understanding the genetic profile of people with glaucoma could also lead to better, more-tailored treatments, she added.

POAG often leads to elevated pressure inside the eye, which can damage the optic nerve. Current treatments, such as eye drops and surgery, are aimed at relieving that pressure, but some people still lose their sight after starting treatment. Plus, some people with POAG have normal eye pressure but still lose vision.

"So pressure alone is our only treatment, but pressure alone is not sufficient to address the problems associated with this disease," O'Brien told Live Science. The new genetic study helps lay the groundwork for scientists to uncover new glaucoma treatments.

Editor's note: This article was updated at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, 2024 to clarify a quote from Dr. Terri Young.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

Ever wonder why some people build muscle more easily than others or why freckles come out in the sun? Send us your questions about how the human body works to community@livescience.com with the subject line "Health Desk Q," and you may see your question answered on the website!

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Unique gene variants tied to glaucoma found in Black patients - Livescience.com

Genetics

Reflections on the Idea of Social and Behavioral Genetics – The Hastings Center

Basic research is ongoing into the genomics of complex human behaviors and social outcomes, from eating and sexual behaviors to subjective sense of well-being and educational attainment. Although the people doing this research may work hard to articulate their benevolent intentions as well as seeking to conduct rigorous, reproducible, ethical research, they do so against the history of pseudoscience, eugenics, and scientific racism. In this seminar, our expert panel will share insights regarding the potential risks and benefits of such research: Will investigations of associations between genetic differences and observed differences in behaviors and social outcomes exacerbateor help to underminegenetic determinism? How can behavioral and social genomics research community and the neurodiversity and disability justice movements learn from each other? Can the polygenic scores created by behavioral and social geneticists be of any real use to improve clinical or social science research? To what extent, if any, is behavioral and social genetics research relevant to discussions of using CRISPR to enhance moral and cognitive behavior? To explore these questions, we are delighted to be joined by:

If you are interested in joining, please send an email tooliver.feeney@uni-tuebingen.de

Moderated by: Dr Oliver Feeney, Ethics of Genome Editing Research Unit, Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Tbingen, Germany.

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Reflections on the Idea of Social and Behavioral Genetics - The Hastings Center

Genetics

Myriad Genetics to Acquire Precise Tumor, Precise Liquid and Laboratory from Intermountain Precision Genomics – GlobeNewswire

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc., (NASDAQ: MYGN), a leader in genetic testing and precision medicine, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire select assets from Intermountain Precision Genomics (IPG) laboratory business, including the Precise Tumor Test, the Precise Liquid Test, and IPGs CLIA-certified laboratory in St. George, Utah where the Precise Tumor Test is currently performed.

The acquisition is expected to close on February 1, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. By bringing the Precise Tumor and Precise Liquid tests in house, Myriad will open up new opportunities for innovation, growth, and continued development of its oncology portfolio.

With this acquisition, were deepening our commitment to our oncology business while also generating a more effective way to scale and grow our tumor profiling and liquid biopsy tests, including operational efficiencies, reimbursement benefits and new clinical development opportunities, said Paul J. Diaz, president and CEO, Myriad Genetics. Wed like to thank our longstanding partners at Intermountain Healthcare for the important progress theyve made in advancing precision oncology care. We look forward to continuing to build on this foundation to provide comprehensive genomic profiling options to the Intermountain Health System and its patients and providers that can help guide clinical care and improve patient outcomes.

Myriads Precise Tumor Test, which is also offered by IPG as TheraMap: Solid Tumor, analyzes a patients tumor DNA to discover and target important variants within tumors. The 500+ gene panel looks at both DNA and RNA to match patients with advanced solid tumors to the right therapy as well as identifying eligibility for clinical trials. Upon the closing of the acquisition on February 1, 2024, Myriad expects to operate TheraMap: Solid Tumor solely as Precise Tumor.

Precise Liquid, which is expected to launch later this year, will provide convenient comprehensive genomic profiling results from a blood draw. IPG has completed all validation studies to support the local coverage determination (LCD) for Precise Liquid and submitted clinical evidence of test performance in December 2023 for Medicare reimbursement.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but are not material to either Myriad or Intermountain Healthcare.

About Myriad Genetics Myriad Genetics is a leading genetic testing and precision medicine company dedicated to advancing health and well-being for all. Myriad develops and offers genetic tests that help assess the risk of developing disease or disease progression and guide treatment decisions across medical specialties where genetic insights can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. For more information, visit http://www.myriad.com.

Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including that the acquisition is expected to close on February 1, 2024, statements relating to the expected benefits of the acquisition, including that it will open up new opportunities for innovation, growth, and continued development of the company's oncology portfolio, that the company expects to operate TheraMap: Solid Tumor as Precise Tumor upon the closing of the acquisition, and that Precise Liquid is expected to launch later this year. These forward-looking statements are managements expectations of future events as of the date hereof and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, conditions, and events to differ materially and adversely from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that a condition to closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied; that either party may terminate the definitive agreement or that the closing of the proposed transaction may be delayed or not occur at all; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or consummation of the proposed transaction; and such other risks described in the companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2023, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in the companys Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. Myriad is not under any obligation, and it expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.

Investor Contact Matt Scalo (801) 584-3532 IR@myriad.com

Media Contact Glenn Farrell (385) 318-3718 PR@myriad.com

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Myriad Genetics to Acquire Precise Tumor, Precise Liquid and Laboratory from Intermountain Precision Genomics - GlobeNewswire

Genetics

Building trust and saving lives: A community approach to genetic education – Medical University of South Carolina

Changes to DNA, known as mutations, can increase the likelihood of developing cancer. Specifically, people with mutations in their BRCA 1 and 2 genes are substantially more likely to develop hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. But how do people know if they have these mutations?

Genetic testing.

Genetic testing allows doctors to see these microscopic changes. Knowing these mutations exist, doctors will check for signs of breast and ovarian cancers more often.

Yet minorities, especially Black women, are less likely to participate in genetic testing. Even fewer engage in follow-up services, such as recommended interventions, which reduce risk.

To change that, a team of researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina led by Caitlin G. Allen, Ph.D., plans to teach community health workers (CHWs), who often reside in the communities they serve, how to share the importance of genetic screening with their peers. Allen is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at MUSC.

Community health workers act as a bridge between the community and researchers and clinicians and can help to answer questions, provide support services and address a lot of social determinants of health issues, said Allen, who has spent more than a decade working alongside and providing support for CHWs.

-- Dr. Caitlin Allen

As a first step, the team worked with CHWs to learn about their needs and preferences for genetics training materials. They describe these efforts in a November article in the Journal of Cancer Education.

Knowing that some minority communities dont trust researchers and medical staff, Allen and her team recruited CHWs because they are already trusted members of the community. The researchers found that CHWs were already very curious about genetics and eager to learn more.

There was significant interest from CHWs to learn more about cancer and genetics, but the training to support them in building these competencies and genetic literacy didnt exist, explained Allen.

With funding from the American Cancer Society and MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Allen and her team were able to create this training by holding focus groups with CHWs and doctors, asking them to come to an agreement about which lessons should be included. Once the training materials were developed, the CHWs told the researchers whether they were clear and easy to understand.

Incorporating feedback from these focus groups, Allen and her team finalized their 10-module CHW training called Keeping Each other Engaged Program via IT (KEEP IT). The researchers virtually delivered the 12-hour training to 26 CHWs. The training was effective in improving genetic knowledge and competencies and highly rated by the CHWs. The full outcomes of the KEEP IT training sessions will be published soon.

It was a privilege to take the idea of CHWs teaching their communities about genetics and put it into action, said Allen.

But the researchers are far from being finished. They are applying for funding so they can expand the training across four other Southern states.

Designing and delivering trainings in collaboration with community members is really effective, stressed Allen, and its important to have community perspective across all research.

Reference

Allen CG, Hatch A, Qanungo S, Ford M, Marrison ST, Umemba Q. Development of a Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Genetics Curriculum for Community Health Workers: KEEP IT (Keeping Each other Engaged Program via IT) Community Health Worker Training. J Cancer Educ. 2023 Nov 3. doi: 10.1007/s13187-023-02377-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37919623.

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Building trust and saving lives: A community approach to genetic education - Medical University of South Carolina

Genetics

SOPHiA GENETICS and Karkinos Healthcare Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Cancer Research in India India … – PR Newswire

SOPHiA GENETICS technology helps advance cancer research across India

SOPHiA GENETICS and Karkinos Healthcare join forces to propel cutting-edge genomic solutions for breakthroughs in personalized cancer care in India

BOSTON andROLLE, Switzerland, Jan. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --SOPHiA GENETICS (Nasdaq: SOPH), a cloud-native software company and a leader in data-driven medicine, today announced that Karkinos Healthcare, a purpose-driven cancer care technology network based in India, will partner with SOPHiA GENETICS and adopt the SOPHiA DDM Platform to advance cancer testing and research for blood cancers and solid tumors to underserved areas in low and middle-income countries.

Karkinos Healthcare is a purpose-driven, technology-led oncology platform, focused on early detection, advanced diagnostics, and treatment delivery of common cancers, using its Distributed Cancer Care Network across India. Karkinos Healthcare provides end-to-end solutions for oncology ecosystem, including disease screening, diagnosis,surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy andcomprehensive patient navigation through the care continuum, in addition to operating advanced research and development laboratories. The company is on a mission to create 'Community as a Cancer Centre' with an endeavour to serve one million patients annually byaddressing the accessibility andaffordability gaps in cancer care through a digitally curated hub and spoke and further spoke model, and not restrict cancer care to comprehensive centres alone.

"It is our continued goal to improve health outcomes for patients globally by expanding access to precision oncology and equipping local health institutions with the tools and technology needed to practice data-driven medicine," said Dr. Jurgi Camblong, CEO and Co-founder, SOPHiA GENETICS. "By aligning with Karkinos, who share the mutual goal, we can help increase the use of best-in-class cancer testing for rural and underserved communities around the world."

On this strategic partnership, Dr. R Venkataramanan, Founder and CEO, Karkinos Healthcaresaid, "Through collaborative research initiatives, Karkinos Healthcare aims to address the comprehensive genomic landscape identification for Indian population, with a focus on precision medicine. This alliance will have the potential to generate evidence and world-class research for faster and accurate diagnosis and better control and management of cancers, particularly for the underprivileged population of our country."

The SOPHiA DDM Platform is designed to compute a wide array of genomic variants and continually hone machine learning algorithms to detect rare and challenging cases. Karkinos Healthcare will use SOPHiA GENETICS' technology to expand its offerings, advance research and streamline workflow for a variety of blood cancers, including Myeloid cancer and Lymphoma. In addition, the company will analyse solid tumours for a variety of cancer types including ovarian, prostate, breast, pancreas, lung, colorectal, skin, and brain cancers.

The SOPHiA DDM Platform offers tailored NGS-based workflows to streamline processes from sample to report to accelerate analysis. By using the SOPHiA DDM Platform, researchers from Karkinos Healthcare will quickly obtain high-quality and reproducible data that will ultimately accelerate clinical research studies and advance the use of precision medicine.

About SOPHiA GENETICS SOPHiA GENETICS (Nasdaq: SOPH) is a software company dedicated to establishing the practice of data-driven medicine as the standard of care and for life sciences research. It is the creator of the SOPHiA DDM Platform, a cloud-native platform capable of analyzing data and generating insights from complex multimodal data sets and different diagnostic modalities. The SOPHiA DDM Platform and related solutions, products and services are currently used by a broad network of hospital, laboratory, and biopharma institutions globally. For more information, visitSOPHiAGENETICS.COM, or connect onX,LinkedIn,Facebook, andInstagram.Where others see data, we see answers.

Product DisclaimerSOPHiA GENETICS products are for Research Use Only and not for use in diagnostic procedures, unless specified otherwise. The information in this press release is about products that may or may not be available in different countries and, if applicable, may or may not have received approval or market clearance by a governmental regulatory body for different indications for use. Please contact [emailprotected] to obtain the appropriate product information for your country of residence.

SOPHiA GENETICS: Forward-Looking StatementThis press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, products, and technology, as well as plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including those described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which such statements are based, unless required to do so by applicable law. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.

About Karkinos HealthcareKarkinos Healthcare is a purpose driven technology-led oncology health care platform for early detection and diagnosis of common cancers. The organisation espouses use of a distributed cancer care network, while working with a network of healthcare institutions and domain experts within the ecosystem, with an aim to provide comprehensive cancer care closer to individuals' homes.

Tata Group, Reliance Industries, Mayo Clinic, and Rakuten Medical Inc. are among the World's leading organizations that have invested in Karkinos Healthcare. The company has also partnered with Tata Memorial Hospital, Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust (UK), and has inked several research collaborations with leading academic institutions in the United States to stay on the cutting edge of oncology treatment and care.To learn more, visit https://www.karkinos.in/about-us/

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SOPHiA GENETICS and Karkinos Healthcare Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Cancer Research in India India ... - PR Newswire

Genetics

Genetics Reveal Poor Oral Health in Mesolithic Era – Mirage News

Members of a hunter-gatherer group that lived in south-western Scandinavia during the Mesolithic era approximately 10,000 years ago may have been affected by tooth decay and gum disease, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.

Emrah Krdk, Anders Gtherstrm and colleagues sequenced the DNA found on three pieces of birch tar a substance made from heated birch bark that were excavated in the 1990s from Huseby Klev, Sweden and have been dated to between 9,890 and 9,540 years old. They created profiles of the microbial, plant, and animal species DNA found on each sample and compared these to those previously reported for modern human samples, ancient human dental plaque, and a 6,000 year old chewed birch tar sample

The authors found that the microbial profiles of the birch tar samples were most similar to microbes found in the modern human mouth, in ancient human dental plaque, and in a 6,000 year old chewed birch tar sample. This suggests that the samples from Huseby Klev were chewed by humans. They also found that they contained an increased abundance of several bacteria that are commonly associated with gum disease such as Treponema denticola, Streptococcus anginosus, and Slackia exigua and tooth decay such as Streptococcus sobrinus and Parascardovia denticolens. Based on the relative abundance of microbial species in the birch tar samples and using machine learning models, the authors estimate that the probability that members of the hunter-gatherer group were affected by gum disease is between 70 and 80%. The authors suggest that the wider use of teeth to perform tasks involving gripping, cutting and tearing in ancient hunter-gatherer societies may have increased their risk of coming into contact with microbial species that cause gum disease.

In addition to microbial DNA, the authors identified DNA sequences consistent with those from a range of plant and animal species, including hazelnut, apple, mistletoe, red fox, grey wolf, mallard, limpet, and brown trout. These could reflect the materials that members of the hunter-gatherer group chewed prior to the birch tar samples. The authors speculate that these materials could have included food sources, furs, and bone tools.

The findings highlight the poor oral health of a group of Mesolithic Scandinavian hunter-gatherers and provide insight into their diet, material use, and local environment.

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Genetics Reveal Poor Oral Health in Mesolithic Era - Mirage News

Genetics

Nova Siri Genetics strengthens its presence in Huelva, growing by 34% – FreshPlaza.com

The province of Huelva has become a strategic territory for Nova Siri Genetics, a company that specializes in the research and experimentation of new strawberry and berry varieties. "Huelva is the area in Europe where its activity has grown the most. In fact, in the current 2023-2024 campaign the producing companies have planted 50 million plants of the company's strawberry varieties."

"Even though the area planted with strawberries in the province of Huelva decreased by 5% this campaign, Nova Siri Genetics managed to considerably increase its activity, as these 50 million plants represent a 34% growth compared to the previous 2022-2023 campaign."

"NSG 2023Marimbella, NSG 207Gioelita, and NSG 465Rossetta are -in this order- Nova Siri Genetics most implanted varieties in the province of Huelva. All three are early strawberry varieties that allow producers to advance their supply of this fruit to November and December. These varieties yield quality fruits and outstanding volumes in terms of kilograms per hectare."

"In fact, in the province of Huelva, the Marimbella variety yields more than 50,000 kilograms of strawberries per hectare. It's Nova Siri Genetics program's most cultivated variety in this area of southwestern Spain, with a total of 31 million plants grown for the current campaign."

Joaqun Domnguez, Nova Siri Genetics' commercial manager for Spain and Morocco, highlighted "the rusticity of these varieties, as they are resistant to Botrytis and other diseases caused by the main fungal pathogens in the soil. In addition, these varieties yield strawberries with excellent organoleptic characteristics, such as aroma, flavor, shape, size, consistent pulp, and an elastic epidermis that allows them to have a long shelf life. Finally, their precocity guarantees producers will have fruits at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter."

According to Joaqun Domnguez, Nova Siri Genetics' mission is to provide varieties that meet the needs of producers and consumers. That's why the company is developing in the province of Huelva a program for the participatory selection of varieties, which is a continuation of participatory plant breeding and a key step in establishing the objectives of this action, involving the different participants in the chain (scientists, production companies, consultants, sales representatives, and consumers)."

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Physiology

Master of Science in Medical Physiology program admissions open office hour – The Daily | Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University students are invited to join the Master of Science in Medical Physiology program for a virtual admissions open office hour Thursday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m.

Samantha Baker, director of admissions, will be available to answer questions about admissions, curriculum, enrichment experiences, life in Cleveland, student successes and more. This is a drop-in style session; there will not be a formal presentation.

Get more information.

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Master of Science in Medical Physiology program admissions open office hour - The Daily | Case Western Reserve University