194 papers
Genetics is the fascinating study of how traits are passed down and how our DNA shapes everything from eye color to disease risk. At Gist.Science, we bring you the very latest discoveries in this dynamic field directly from bioRxiv, the leading preprint server for biology. Because these findings appear months before formal publication, staying updated requires sifting through complex data that often feels inaccessible to non-specialists.
To bridge that gap, our team processes every new genetics preprint uploaded to bioRxiv, transforming dense scientific reports into clear, plain-language explanations alongside detailed technical summaries. This dual approach ensures that whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about how genes work, you can grasp the core insights without getting lost in jargon. Below are the latest papers in genetics, curated and simplified for your reading.
This study presents evidence from a large human pedigree that a specific family exhibits a 2:1 male-to-female offspring ratio, suggesting the existence of a rare Y-chromosome-driven segregation distorter in humans.
Using whole-genome sequencing and metabolomics data from the HCHS/SOL study, this research demonstrates that while rare variants show replicated associations with metabolite levels, expanding the genomic search region for common variants, rather than including rare variants, is the primary factor explaining previously unexplained admixture mapping signals.
This study integrates bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing to identify a novel proliferation-centric gene module in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that shares oncogenic pathways with cancer, suggesting potential new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets involving cell cycle inhibitors.
This cohort profile describes the curation and initial analyses of molecular genetic and epigenetic data from the TwinSNPs and TECS satellite projects within the German TwinLife study, highlighting the high correlation of epigenetic clocks with age, the predictive value of polygenic scores for sample retention, and the potential of combining (epi)genomic data with within-family designs to advance research on social inequalities.
This study demonstrates that the large *Manihot glaziovii* introgression on cassava chromosome 1 does not directly confer the previously attributed dry matter benefits but instead exhibits segregation distortion and deleterious effects on vigor, suggesting that recombination and purging of this region are necessary for cassava improvement.
This study integrates extensive phenotyping with genome-wide association analysis in Colombian Andean blueberry (Vaccinium meridionale) to identify 24 QTLs and specific candidate genes, such as glycosyltransferases and pectin methylesterases, that govern the polygenic architecture of dietary fiber content and composition, thereby providing molecular targets for breeding improved nutritional and processing traits.
This study establishes a highly sensitive phage display-mediated immuno-PCR (PD-iPCR) platform, utilizing high-affinity nanobodies and epitope-tagged fly lines, to successfully detect and quantify low-abundance circulating proteins like ImpL2 in the limited hemolymph of Drosophila, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional ELISA for studying interorgan communication.
Despite the demographic success of serial translocations in establishing growing populations of critically endangered Anegada iguanas, the study reveals that these events caused significant genetic erosion and potential inbreeding depression due to severe founder effects, highlighting a disconnect between census size and long-term genetic viability.
This study utilized genome-wide association analysis in outbred Sprague-Dawley rats to identify specific genetic loci and candidate genes linked to anxiety-like and pain sensitivity traits relevant to substance use, demonstrating that combining outbred and selectively bred rat models provides a more comprehensive understanding of the genetic architecture underlying addiction liability.
The paper introduces a coordinate system and hypothesis testing framework to distinguish between cis and trans regulatory contributions to gene expression differences, demonstrating its ability to yield distinct assignments and model context dependency in yeast, human-chimpanzee, and mouse studies compared to previous methods.