D is for disease inhibitor
Vitamin D has been found to interact with genes at over 2776 sites on the human genome, some of which are linked to diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, leukaemia and colorectal cancer (Genome Research, DOI: 10.1101/gr.107920.110). The authors say their findings underscore the risks of vitamin D deficiency.
Sitting Bull’s secrets
Legendary Native American chief, Sitting Bull of the Sioux, is to yield up the secrets of his genome. Eske Willerslev and colleagues at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark have reportedly won approval from Sitting Bull’s descendents to undertake a DNA analysis…
