Population genetics: Genetic landscapes out of Africa | PDF (269 KB)

p345 | doi:10.1038/nrg2605

Genomics: Milking the cow genome | PDF (203 KB)

p346 | doi:10.1038/nrg2598

Complex disease: Autism clues from genome-wide studies | PDF (161 KB)

p346 | doi:10.1038/nrg2599

Cancer genomics: A modular approach to signalling | PDF (232 KB)

p348 | doi:10.1038/nrg2595

Gene expression: Structure versus codon bias | PDF (157 KB)

p348 | doi:10.1038/nrg2596

Synthetic biology: Towards off-the-shelf networks | PDF (210 KB)

p348 | doi:10.1038/nrg2602

Small RNAs: A tiny stabilizer of development | PDF (132 KB)

p350 | doi:10.1038/nrg2597

Technology: The holy grail for plant biologists | PDF (205 KB)

p350 | doi:10.1038/nrg2604

New insights into the aetiology of colorectal cancer from genome-wide association studies

Albert Tenesa & Malcolm G. Dunlop

p353 | doi:10.1038/nrg2574

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.

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Maintaining the brain: insight into human neurodegeneration from Drosophila melanogaster mutants

Derek Lessing & Nancy M. Bonini

p359 | doi:10.1038/nrg2563

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.

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• PDF (644 KB)
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Towards better mouse models: enhanced genotypes, systemic phenotyping and envirotype modelling

Johannes Beckers, Wolfgang Wurst & Martin Hrabé de Angelis

p371 | doi:10.1038/nrg2578

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.

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Mapping genes for complex traits in domestic animals and their use in breeding programmes

Michael E. Goddard & Ben J. Hayes

p381 | doi:10.1038/nrg2575

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.

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Detecting gene–gene interactions that underlie human diseases

Heather J Cordell

p392 | doi:10.1038/nrg2579

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.

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• Supplementary information

Human language as a culturally transmitted replicator

Mark Pagel

p405 | doi:10.1038/nrg2560

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.

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