Precision in medicinal chemistry: Harnessing enzymes for advanced halogenation

Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstrac

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Why banks take security

This paper aims to understand, through a literature critique, the motivation behind banks to be secured creditors given the current law governing security as well as other factors affecting banks' lending activities. In addition, this paper also analyses the role that securities play in banks' lending decisions

Investigation of employers', faculty members' and undergraduates' perceptions on the relevant skills in the NTU Bachelor of Accountancy curriculum

Our project attempts to examine whether employers from CPA firms feel that the skills acquired by NTU BAcc graduates are sufficient to meet their expectations. It will also examine whether this revised curriculum prepares undergraduates in feeling sufficiently equipped to meet the expectations of employers from CPA firms

Poverty and meritocracy in Singapore

Singapore is recognised to be one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Despite priding itself to be an inclusive country in terms of wealth distribution, there is increasing class inequality. Particularly, there have been cases of individuals struggling to make ends meet. This study aims to understand middle-class perceptions of ‘poverty’ and ‘the poor’. As a qualitative study, this research involved semi-structured interviews with thirty middle-class young adults in Singapore. The responses garnered reveal an undercurrent of meritocratic principles that seem to inform how they conceptualise ‘poverty’ and ‘the poor’. This is reflected in the emphasis on the importance of hard work and self-reliance, where one should not solely rely on government assistance. This paper draws upon these responses to discuss the implications of meritocracy as a value system and recommends some solutions to remedy the unintended consequences of implementing this system across all facets of life.Bachelor of Art

Sex differences in oncogenic mutational processes

Funder: Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100002790Funder: Genome Canada (Génome Canada); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/100008762Funder: Canada Foundation for Innovation (Fondation canadienne pour l'innovation); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000196Funder: Terry Fox Research Institute (Institut de Recherche Terry Fox); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100004376Abstract: Sex differences have been observed in multiple facets of cancer epidemiology, treatment and biology, and in most cancers outside the sex organs. Efforts to link these clinical differences to specific molecular features have focused on somatic mutations within the coding regions of the genome. Here we report a pan-cancer analysis of sex differences in whole genomes of 1983 tumours of 28 subtypes as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium. We both confirm the results of exome studies, and also uncover previously undescribed sex differences. These include sex-biases in coding and non-coding cancer drivers, mutation prevalence and strikingly, in mutational signatures related to underlying mutational processes. These results underline the pervasiveness of molecular sex differences and strengthen the call for increased consideration of sex in molecular cancer research