New study reveals drivers of rare cancer and provides a possible alternative solution to surgery. The genetic code of a rare form of kidney cancer, called reninoma, has been studied for the first time. In the new paper, published today (September 25th) in Nature Communications, researchers at the
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In the first study of the genomic architecture of the human placenta, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Cambridge and their collaborators have confirmed that the normal structure of the placenta is different to any other human organ and resembles that of a tumour, harbouring many of the same genetic mutations found in childhood cancers.
The study, published today (10 March 2021) in
Nature, found evidence to support the theory of the placenta as a dumping ground for genetic defects, whereas the fetus corrects or avoids these errors. The findings provide a clear rationale for studying the association between genetic aberrations and birth outcomes, in order to better understand problems such as premature birth and stillbirth.