A genome-wide association study of facial morphology identifies novel genetic loci in Han Chinese

The human face is a heritable surface with many complex sensory organs.In recent years,many genetic loci associated with facial features have been reported in different populations,yet there is a lack of studies on the Han Chinese population.Here,we report a genome-wide association study of 3D normal human faces of 2,659 Han Chinese with autosegment phenotypes of facial morphology.We identify singlenucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)encompassing four genomic regions showing significant associations with different facial regions,including SNPs in DENND1 B associated with the chin,SNPs among PISRT1 associated with eyes,SNPs between DCHS2 and SFRP2 associated with the nose,and SNPs in VPS13 B associated with the nose.We replicate 24 SNPs from previously reported genetic loci in different populations,whose candidate genes are DCHS2,SUPT3 H,HOXD1,SOX9,PAX3,and EDAR.These results provide a more comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of variation in human facial morphology.

Structure-based protein-protein interaction networks and drug design

Proteins carry out their functions by interacting with other proteins and small molecules, forming a complex interaction network. In this review, we briefly introduce classical graph theory based protein-protein interaction networks. We also describe the commonly used experimental methods to construct these networks, and the insights that can be gained from these networks. We then discuss the recent transition from graph theory based networks to structure based protein-protein interaction networks and the advantages of the latter over the former, using two networks as examples. We further discuss the usefulness of structure based protein-protein interaction networks for drug discovery, with a special emphasis on drug repositioning.

Large-scale genome-wide scans do not support petaloid toenail as a Mendelian trait

Petaloid toenail, or accessory nail of the fifth toe, is a physical trait characterized by the presence of an additional tiny toenail on the small toe. Since it can occasionally cause disfigurement and tenderness while wearing tight shoes or walking, standard surgical matricectomy is often carried out to repair the petaloid toenail （Chi and Wang, 2004）. Chinese legends recorded petaloid toenails as a trait unique to Han Chinese （Gao, 2010）, but population- based studies are largely absent.

The mutation network for the hemagglutinin gene from the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus

A mutation network for the hemagglutinin gene(HA) of the novel type A(H1N1) influenza virus was constructed.Sequence homology analysis indicated that one HA sequence type from the viruses mainly isolated from Mexico was likely the original type in this epidemic.Based on the 658A and 1408T mutations in HA,the viruses evolving into this epidemic were divided into three categories,the Mexico,the transitional and the New York type.The three groups of viruses presented distinctive clustering features in their geographic distributions.

Targeting Ageing to Decrease Complex Non-Communicable Human Diseases

During the last two centuries, there have been many spectacular advances in medical science, the main consequence of which has been the dramatically reduced burden of infectious diseases. While in the 1800s many people died before reaching adult- hood, nowadays most people survive. Hence average life ex- pectancy in 1800s was around 30-40, which was barely higher than it had been in Greek and Roman times （Finch, 2010）, but nowadays life expectancy in most modernised economies is around 75 - 80. This demographic shift, which has happened in only 200 years, has created a dramatic change in the causes of mortality. The major killers in the modern world are non- communicable diseases （NCDs）： principally cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alz- heimer＇s disease. A major factor that influences susceptibility to all these diseases is age. As we get older, our risk of developing these NCDs increases enormously. For example, the rate of breast cancer in females at age 15-19 is less than 10 per 100,000 population, but this increases to 100 at age 40-44, 275 at age 55--59 and 450 at age 85 ＋ （http：//www.cancerresearchuk.org/ cancer-info/cancerstats/types/breast/incidence/#age）. Ageing has consequently become a major medical, social and economic burden to many countries.