Cancer Gene Expression Targets Validated Using Novel Histopathology Tools

Decades since the discovery of messenger RNA, mRNA-based therapeutics catapulted to the forefront of public consciousness in the form of vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Super-resolution microscopy techniques have facilitated imaging some of the smallest cellular structures with amazing detail and have led to key discoveries in molecular and cell biology, immunology, and neurobiology. Now, there is an increasing need to bring this level of detail to rapidly-occurring cellular events.

Xdrop® is a microfluid droplet technology that enriches and amplifies long DNA fragments of largely unknown sequence from low sample input. Genomics researchers have coupled it with long and short-read sequencing (Oxford Nanopore, PacBio and Illumina) to gain high-resolution insights into genomic regions that have previously been inaccessible.  Examples of its use in unraveling plant genomes include closing gaps due to poor genome assemblies or low correspondence between reference genome and plant variety, resolving structural rearrangements like transposable elements, and examining gene clusters without performing whole genome sequencing. Xdrop can be applied in relation to QTL mapping and bulk segregant analysis by enabling targeted sequencing of the identified region of interest in several segregating plants with the aim of identifying the polymorphisms either linked to or causing the phenotype of interest. The long-range genomic information (100 kb) and single-molecule resolution achieved with Xdrop target enrichment simplifies working with large and structurally complex genomes with an easy capture design and workflow.

Signals are given in contexts such as mate selection by females, which subjects the advertising males' signals to selective pressure. Signals thus evolve because they modify the behaviour of the receiver to benefit the signaller. Signals may be honest, conveying information which usefully increases the fitness of the receiver, or dishonest. An individual can cheat by giving a dishonest signal, which might briefly benefit that signaller, at the risk of undermining the signalling system for the whole population.