Archive for the ‘DNA’ tag
Find Common Ancestors by Comparing Genomes in deCODEme
We have just made some updates to the deCODEme ancestry service. Now you have more power and flexibility when you compare your genome with that of friends or individuals from different populations around the world.
Your genome can be viewed as a mosaic or tapestry made up of fragments of chromosomes from your ancestors. Fragments of chromosomes inherited from very recent ancestors, say grandparents, are expected to be large – typically tens of millions of nucleotides in size. As ancestors become more ancient, then the size of the chromosome fragments inherited from them become smaller – down to a few thousand or hundred nucleotides for ancestors born thousands of years ago.
Our new and improved genome comparison tool enables to you compare your genome with another individual in order to determine which chromosome fragments you share and to see how much of your genome is shared. The fascinating thing about this analysis is that each shared fragment represents a common ancestor. The number of shared fragments and their size reflects the number of common ancestors and how far back in time they are found. In other words, you can see how closely you are related.
deCODEme for “Curious George” – A catalog of published results from the National Human Genome Research Institute
The National Human Genome Research Institute catalog can now be accessed through your deCODEme account
Through your deCODEme account (or the demo account if you are not yet a deCODEme customer) you can access a catalog of published Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) that has been compiled by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).
This feature allows you to gain a quick overview of where research on common traits has been showing associations with single nucleotide genetic variations (SNPs). Users can easily select a disease or trait from a list and a feature track with the corresponding SNPs from the catalog will show up in our Genome Browser.
Many of the associations in the GWAS catalog compiled in August 2009 are included in our Health Watch feature. There are also numerous other associations that our scientists have not included, as they do not fulfill the criteria we set for inclusion in our Health Watch.
The GWAS catalog is presented (see here) simply as it appears on the NHGRI web site and has not been reviewed by deCODE’s scientists. The catalog is provided primarily for educational purposes – for the curious George who wants to look at genome-wide association study results in the context of other information that we provide in our Genome Browser.
Ovarian Cancer added to deCODEme Complete Scan
deCODEme DNA test now includes Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women. Based on ovarian cancer statistics in the U.S., it is expected that 1.4% of women born today will be diagnosed with cancer of the ovary at some point during their lifetime. This represents the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer and means that 1 out of every 71 women will be diagnosed with this disease during their lifetime. deCODEme Complete Scan now includes risk calculation for Ovarian Cancer.
Stories from our foremothers: deCODE publishes an unparalleled genetic snapshot of Iceland 1000 years ago
Iceland was mainly settled by Scandinavian men and women from Irealand and Scotland
In a paper published today scientists at deCODE genetics present the results of the largest study of ancient DNA from a single population ever undertaken. Analyzing mitochondrial DNA, which is passed from mother to offspring, from 68 skeletal remains from approximately 1000 years ago, the study provides the most detailed look to date at how a contemporary population differs from that of its ancestors. The results confirm previous deCODE work that used genetics to test the history of Iceland as recorded in the sagas.
Audio link: Dr. Kari Stefansson interviewed on BBC WORLD. BBC
These studies demonstrated that the country seems indeed to have been settled by men from Scandinavia – the vikings – but that the majority of the original female inhabitants were from the coastal regions of Scotland and Ireland, areas that regularly suffered raids by vikings in the years around the settlement of Iceland 1100 years ago.
Read the rest of this entry »
Your genome, your choice: a buyer’s checklist for genetic tests
Scientists at deCODE genetics Genetic Service Facility lab in Iceland
The number of companies offering genetic tests to the public is large and growing. But there are vast and very real differences in the quality, purpose and price of testing services out there. So how do you tell the difference between them? And how do you decide which to use?
Knowing what you want
First and foremost, you need to think about what sort of information you hope to gain from your genome and how accurate you want the results to be. Are you taking the test only for fun, perhaps hoping to talk about your results on Facebook? Read the rest of this entry »
deCODE and Radboud University discover common variants in the human genome conferring risk of bladder cancer
Urinary bladder cancer is something many people have never heard of. But it is the sixth most common form of cancer in the United States, and its environmental risk factors include exposure to toxic chemicals, including some used in industrial processing as well as cigarette smoke. Genetic factors also play a role and may help to elucidate how bladder cancer starts and develops.
Today, deCODE’s cancer group and colleagues at Radboud University in the Netherlands report the discovery of two single letter variants (commonly referred to as SNPs) in the human genome that confer increased risk of bladder cancer. Both are common, and 20 percent of people of European descent carry two copies of the highest impact SNP, located on chromosome 8q24. That puts them at about 50 percent higher likelihood of developing bladder cancer than people who do not carry the variant.
Not all genetic tests are created equal
Here are a few thoughts on Nic Fleming’s piece on personal genome scans, of which one was our own, deCODEme:
Our genomes are all remarkably similar. And so it is the differences that are most interesting and important, and that make us who we are.
The same can be said of genetic testing services. We at deCODE were not at all surprised that Mr. Fleming found that he got some varying results from the three genome scans that he tried. Indeed we would be surprised (and more than a little dismayed) if he hadn’t. Analyzing the genome – accurately detecting which genetic markers individuals have at specific points in the genome, and correlating these variations with risk of a range of common diseases – has been our bread and butter for well over a decade. Read the rest of this entry »
