Whole Genome Analyses of Chinese Population and De Novo Assembly of A Northern Han Genome

To unravel the genetic mechanisms of disease and physiological traits,it requires comprehensive sequencing analysis of large sample size in Chinese populations.Here,we report the primary results of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Precision Medicine Initiative(CASPMI)project launched by the Chinese Academy of Sciences,including the de novo assembly of a northern Han reference genome(NH1.0)and whole genome analyses of 597 healthy people coming from most areas in China.Given the two existing reference genomes for Han Chinese(YH and HX1)were both from the south,we constructed NH1.0,a new reference genome from a northern individual,by combining the sequencing strategies of PacBio,10×Genomics,and Bionano mapping.Using this integrated approach,we obtained an N50 scaffold size of 46.63 Mb for the NH1.0 genome and performed a comparative genome analysis of NH1.0 with YH and HX1.In order to generate a genomic variation map of Chinese populations,we performed the whole-genome sequencing of 597 participants and identified 24.85 million(M)single nucleotide variants(SNVs),3.85 M small indels,and 106,382 structural variations.In the association analysis with collected phenotypes,we found that the T allele of rs1549293 in KAT8 significantly correlated with the waist circumference in northern Han males.Moreover,significant genetic diversity in MTHFR,TCN2,FADS1,and FADS2,which associate with circulating folate,vitamin B12,or lipid metabolism,was observed between northerners and southerners.Especially,for the homocysteine-increasing allele of rs1801133(MTHFR 677T),we hypothesize that there exists a “comfort”zone for a high frequency of 677T between latitudes of 35–45 degree North.Taken together,our results provide a high-quality northern Han reference genome and novel population-specific data sets of genetic variants for use in the personalized and precision medicine.

Materials genome strategy for metallic glasses

Metallic glasses(MGs)have attracted extensive attention in the past decades due to their unique chem-ical,physical and mechanical properties promising for a wide range of engineering applications.A thor-ough understanding of their structure-property relationships is the key to the development of novel MGs with desirable performance.New strategies,as proposed by Materials Genome Initiative(MGI),construct a new paradigm for high-throughput materials discovery and design,and are being increas-ingly implemented in the search of new MGs.While a few reports have summarized the application of high-throughput and/or machine learning techniques,a comprehensive assessment of materials genome strategies for developing MGs is still missing.Herein,this paper aims to present a timely overview of key advances in this fascinating subject,as well as current challenges and future opportunities.A holistic approach is used to cover the related topics,including high-throughput preparation and characterization of MGs,and data-driven machine learning strategies for accelerating the development of novel MGs.Fi-nally,future research directions and perspectives for MGI-assisted design of MGs are also proposed and surmised.