Memories from our genes: Genes, Culture, and Human Evolution: A Synthesis

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actual role of older oral antibiotics in the treatment of resistant urinary tract infections utis

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Review 1: "Genetic association analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 455,838 UK Biobank participants"

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Gene Expression and Epigenetics: The Link Between Biology, Physiology and Behavior

Espressione genica ed epigenetica: il nesso tra biologia, fisiologia e comportamentoRiassunto: La capacità di parlare è considerata un tratto specificamente umano. I linguaggi sono parte della cultura umana e vngono trasmessi dai genitori alla prole. Ad ogni modo, il linguaggio possiede anche una forte componente genetica che soltanto di recente ha cominciato a essere compresa in maniera più precisa. Il presente contributo riassume alcuni dei risultati più innovativi circa l’organizzazione e la regolazione dei nostri geni e del nostro genoma, indicando alcune delle sfide con cui la ricerca dovrà misurarsi nel prossimo futuro. L’autore afferma che il progresso scientifico in questo complicato campo d’indagine necessita di un approccio interdisciplinare, nel quale le competenze specifiche di filosofi, psicologi, sociologi, biologi, etc. devono sostenersi a vicenda, per poter essere all’altezza di queste sfide.Parole chiave: Linguaggio; Comportamento; Biologia; Fisiologia; Genetica; Genoma. Abstract: Human speech is considered a specifically human trait. Languages are part of human culture, and are transmitted from parents to offspring. However, language has a strong genetic component too, which has only now begun to be understood more precisely. This paper summarizes some of the recent groundbreaking results on the organization and regulation of our genes and genome and presents some of the challenges that research will need to tackle in the near future. The author argues that scientific progress in this complex field requires an interdisciplinary approach in which the specific competences of philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, biologists, etc. are combined to reach the final objective.Keywords: Language; Behavior; Biology; Physiology; Genetics; Genome

Review 2: "Genetic association analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 455,838 UK Biobank participants"

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Molecular dynamics simulation of human LOX-1 provides an explanation for the lack of OxLDL binding to the Trp150Ala mutant

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dimeric lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 LOX-1 is the target receptor for oxidized low density lipoprotein in endothelial cells. <it>In vivo </it>assays revealed that in LOX-1 the basic spine arginine residues are important for binding, which is lost upon mutation of Trp150 with alanine. Molecular dynamics simulations of the wild-type LOX-1 and of the Trp150Ala mutant C-type lectin-like domains, have been carried out to gain insight into the severe inactivating effect.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mutation does not alter the dimer stability, but a different dynamical behaviour differentiates the two proteins. As described by the residues fluctuation, the dynamic cross correlation map and the principal component analysis in the wild-type the two monomers display a symmetrical motion that is not observed in the mutant.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The symmetrical motion of monomers is completely damped by the structural rearrangement caused by the Trp150Ala mutation. An improper dynamical coupling of the monomers and different fluctuations of the basic spine residues are observed, with a consequent altered binding affinity.</p

Reviews of "Genetic association analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 455,838 UK Biobank participants"

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Genomics of COVID-19: molecular mechanisms going from susceptibility to severity of the disease

The current COVID-19 pandemic (https://www.who. int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19%2D%2 D-11-march-2020) has highlighted the importance of science and medicine, specifically public health, in our modern societies. Countries have taken different approaches to the pandemic. Science and medicine will play an important role in our way forward. Specifically, genetics and genomics will be central in discovering variations in virus strains and their impact on patients’ susceptibility, progression, and outcome. Additionally, the human and zoonotic hosts’ ability to fend off the virus and the severity of disease in patients will have genomic elements. Furthermore, the question of long-term immunity to COVID-19 will likely have a genomic basis which should be investigated. Some of these genetic and genomic investigations will undoubtedly be suitable for publication in Human Genomics. We, therefore, expressly welcome submissions of manuscripts on such subjects to the thematic series on the “Genomics of COVID-19: molecular mechanisms going from susceptibility to severity of the disease.” As citizen-scientists, we also have a responsibility toward society as citizens first and foremost but also specifically as scientists working on improving the lives of all humans. Political aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its origins can and should not be ignored as the needs of all humans: rich and poor, various ethnicities, rural vs. urban, different health and political systems, etc. These aspects, if fitting within the scope of the journal, will also be considered for publication in this thematic series in Human Genomi

J'Accuse ... Or The Plight of pro-bono Volunteer Scientists in Academic Publishing

[Extract] The immortal words of Èmile Zola: “J’accuse…” were his introduction to a letter on the mistreatment of a French citizen [1]. We believe Springer Nature (and other commercial publishing houses) need to similarly clean up their acts in the area of pro-bono volunteer scientists and hence this melodramatic yet appropriate start to this letter