The genetic contributions to breast cancer development among Latinas are not well understood. Here, we carry out a genome-wide association study of breast cancer in Latinas and identify a genome-wide significant risk variant, located 5’ of the Estrogen Receptor 1 gene (ESR1) (6q25 region). The minor allele for this variant is strongly protective (rs140068132: OR 0.60, 95%CI 0.53-0.67, P=9×10−18), originates from Indigenous Americans, and is uncorrelated with previously reported risk variants at 6q25. The association is stronger for estrogen receptor negative disease (OR 0.34 95% CI 0.21-0.54) than estrogen receptor positive disease (OR 0.63 95% CI 0.49-0.80) (P heterogeneity=0.01) and is also associated with mammographic breast density, a strong risk factor for breast cancer (P=0.001). rs140068132 is located within several transcription factor binding sites and electrophoretic mobility shift assays with MCF-7 nuclear protein demonstrate differential binding of the G/A alleles at this locus. These results highlight the importance of conducting research in diverse populations.
Children affected by Specific Language Impairment (SLI) fail to acquire age appropriate language skills despite adequate intelligence and opportunity. SLI is highly heritable, but the understanding of underlying genetic mechanisms has proved challenging. In this study, we use molecular genetic techniques to investigate an admixed isolated founder population from the Robinson Crusoe Island (Chile), who are affected by a high incidence of SLI, increasing the power to discover contributory genetic factors. We utilize exome sequencing in selected individuals from this population to identify eight coding variants that are of putative significance. We then apply association analyses across the wider population to highlight a single rare coding variant (rs144169475, Minor Allele Frequency of 4.1% in admixed South American populations) in the NFXL1 gene that confers a nonsynonymous change (N150K) and is significantly associated with language impairment in the Robinson Crusoe population (p = 2.04 × 10–4, 8 variants tested). Subsequent sequencing of NFXL1 in 117 UK SLI cases identified four individuals with heterozygous variants predicted to be of functional consequence. We conclude that coding variants within NFXL1 confer an increased risk of SLI within a complex genetic model.
We found that HABP2 G534E is a low-to-moderate frequency variant in the British Isles and failed to detect an association with NMTC risk, independent of histological type. Hence, our study does not implicate HABP2 G534E or a correlated polymorphism in familial NMTC and additional data are required before using this variant in NMTC risk assessment.
To speed up the molecular analysis of cassava transgenic plants, we developed real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods that could be implemented as a tool in the primary scrutiny of putative transgenic plants. We tested for the presence of transgenes, estimated copy number, and quantified messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of genes introduced through Agrobacterium. Copy numbers for the genes ß-glucuronidase and hygromycin phosphortransferase were estimated in 15 transgenic lines.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.