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Recent studies have identified common genetic variants that contribute to colorectal cancer aetiology, providing new insight into the genetic architecture of the disease. Associations identified so far suggest an overlap with familial cases in terms of biological mechanisms, and also provide new avenues for exploration.
Identifying genes that are essential for maintaining neuronal integrity provides significant insight into the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders. Recessive mutants in the fly have proven invaluable for finding such genes and for highlighting key biological processes that contribute to neurodegeneration.
There are still many challenges ahead to maximize the potential of the mouse as a model for basic research and human diseases. This article discusses the current initiatives and future strategies to improve the next generation of mouse models.
The availability of genome-wide panels of SNPs for many domestic animals has allowed the mapping and identification of many economically important traits in livestock. This Review discusses how genome-wide association studies can be used for the genetic improvement and selection of domestic animals.
The limited lack of success of many human complex disease studies is often attributed to the existence of interactions between loci. This article reviews and assesses the methods and software packages that have been developed to detect these gene by gene interactions.
Biological evolution and language evolution share many striking parallels. This Review explains how these similarities enable the use of statistical methods derived from phylogenetics to understand how human languages evolve and the insights that language phylogenies can reveal.
Comparisons between species are essential for evo–devo research, but are there benefits in focusing on organisms in which sophisticated analytical tools are available? The author of this Perspective discusses this question, and also proposes further integration of evo–devo with other areas of evolutionary research.
