linkstream2 microblog

QT:
Despite its financial woes, deCode has begun to pay off, not in money, but in science. About 10 years ago its scientists co-discovered the association of the neuroregulin 1 (NRG1) gene with schizophrenia, and they have had some more modest successes with other diseases. But last week, deCode produced not only its most important genetic finding to date, but also quite possibly the most important genetic finding in Alzheimer’s disease in the last 20 years.

To be fair, the company had plenty of help. Coauthors of their paper, “A mutation in APP protects against Alzheimer’s disease and
age-related cognitive decline” … the key to the study rests on two things: the use of genetically defined populations, and genome sequencing and analysis based on a specific hypothesis.
”

http://genomebiology.com/2012/13/10/176

Nice overview of #Alzheimer’s research giving context for deCode’s finding of a protective APP mutation
http://genomebiology.com/2012/13/10/176

QT:
Despite numerous examples of the enormous value of model organism research, many scientists and scientific administrators seem to think that nothing lower than a mouse is suitable for cutting-edge biology anymore.
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http://genomebiology.com/2011/12/5/115