Polyploidization has provided much genetic variation for plant adaptive evolution, but the mechanisms by which the molecular evolution of polyploid genomes establishes genetic architecture underlying species differentiation are unclear. Brassica is an ideal model to increase knowledge of polyploid evolution. Here we describe a draft genome sequence of Brassica oleracea, comparing it with that of its sister species B. rapa to reveal numerous chromosome rearrangements and asymmetrical gene loss in duplicated genomic blocks, asymmetrical amplification of transposable elements, differential gene co-retention for specific pathways and variation in gene expression, including alternative splicing, among a large number of paralogous and orthologous genes. Genes related to the production of anticancer phytochemicals and morphological variations illustrate consequences of genome duplication and gene divergence, imparting biochemical and morphological variation to B. oleracea. This study provides insights into Brassica genome evolution and will underpin research into the many important crops in this genus.

The monthly remodeling, shedding, and regeneration of the endometrium defining the human menstrual cycle is driven by gene expression changes in the underlying tissue hierarchy. Significant heterogeneity exists among cell types in the endometrium, such that multiple cell types vary dramatically in state through a monthly cycle and undergo various forms of differentiation at rapid rates. Histologic analysis and whole-tissue transcriptomic profiling have defined a specific molecular state as the optimal timing of the window of implantation (WOI) for in vitro fertilization transfer.This single-cell transcriptomic analysis aimed to characterize the transcriptomic transformation of human endometrium at single-cell resolution across the menstrual cycle, including at the WOI. Endometrial biopsies were collected from 19 healthy ovum donors between 4 and 27 days following menses, and single cells were captured and complementary DNA was generated using Fluidigm C1 medium chips. Six cell types were identified across the menstrual cycle: stromal fibroblast, endothelium, macrophage, lymphocyte, ciliated epithelium, and unciliated epithelium.Endometrial transformation was analyzed by within-cell type t-SNE using whole-transcriptome data from unciliated epithelia and stromal fibroblasts, the 2 major contributing cell types to endometrial transformation. This revealed 4 major, time-associated phases of both cell types. Among unciliated epithelia, single-cell gene dynamics were relatively continuous across phases 1 to 3 until an abrupt activation of genes consistently reported in whole-tissue transcriptomic data sets as overexpressed in the WOI marked entrance into phase 4. Among stromal fibroblasts, the WOI was characterized by widespread decidualization that became gradually upregulated through phase progression. Likewise, the WOI closed with more gradual transition dynamics in both cell types.The traditional definition of endometrial phases, consisting of the proliferative and secretory phases, correlated with the 4 phases identified here through single-cell analysis. Cell-cycling was elevated in phases 1 and 2 and ceased in later phases, suggesting the transition from proliferative to secretory occurred between phase 2 and 3. At the transcriptomic level, proliferative endometrium can be divided into 2 distinct phases with unique transcriptomic signatures.This study involved the systematic characterization of the human endometrium across the menstrual cycle through dynamic gene expression mapping. The results demonstrate that ciliated epithelium are a transcriptomically distinct endometrial cell type that are highly prevalent in the human endometrium and constantly changing in abundance across the cycle. This study likewise demonstrated an abrupt and strong transcriptomic activation in unciliated epithelia and a gradual activation in stromal fibroblasts to define the opening of the WOI, indicating a potential diagnostic target for more precise in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Molecular characterization of cell types using single-cell transcriptome sequencing is revolutionizing cell biology and enabling new insights into the physiology of human organs. We created a human reference atlas comprising nearly 500,000 cells from 24 different tissues and organs, many from the same donor. This atlas enabled molecular characterization of more than 400 cell types, their distribution across tissues, and tissue-specific variation in gene expression. Using multiple tissues from a single donor enabled identification of the clonal distribution of T cells between tissues, identification of the tissue-specific mutation rate in B cells, and analysis of the cell cycle state and proliferative potential of shared cell types across tissues. Cell type–specific RNA splicing was discovered and analyzed across tissues within an individual.

Equity crowdfunding platforms are at the center of the digital transformation of early-stage venture funding. These digital platforms were originally heralded as a democratizing force in early stage finance, due to their role in facilitating the exchange between entrepreneurs and a multitude of non-professional small investors ("the crowd"). Equity crowdfunding platforms have experienced considerable growth and now attract professional investors including business angels. The presence of angels alongside the crowd on equity crowdfunding platforms has raised questions whether these digital platforms can continue to play their role in democratizing access to capital. Using data from a leading equity crowdfunding platform, we examine the interplay between the investment decisions of angels and the crowd. We find evidence of information flows in crowdfunding platforms between angels, and from angels to the crowd. We find angels play an important role in funding of large ventures, whereas the crowd not only fill the funding gaps for such large ventures but also play a pivotal role in the funding of small ones. The complementarity between angels and crowd investors seems to increase the overall efficiency in an otherwise highly asymmetric and uncertain market, confirming that digitization can indeed bring important benefits to venture investment.