OHSU researchers assemble comprehensive atlas of human gene mutations
Nicole’s GTEx paper was profiled by OHSU news. Congratulations Nicole and Don!
The origins and functional effects of postzygotic mutations throughout the human life span
Former grad student Nicole’s paper on detecting and analyzing PZMs in GTEx data is now available online in Science. Congratulations! Abstract Postzygotic mutations (PZMs) begin to accrue in the human genome immediately after fertilization, but how and when PZMs affect development and lifetime health remain unclear. To study the origins and functional consequences of PZMs, […]
Diverse monogenic subforms of human spermatogenic failure
Our main GEMINI paper is now available online in Nature Communications. Congratulations to all! Abstract Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the most severe form of male infertility and typically incurable. Defining the genetic basis of NOA has proven challenging, and the most advanced classification of NOA subforms is not based on genetics, but simple description of […]
SATINN: An automated neural network-based classification of testicular sections allows for high-throughput histopathology of mouse mutants
Ran and Ana’s paper is now available online in Bioinformatics. Congratulations! Abstract Motivation: The mammalian testis is a complex organ with a cellular composition that changes smoothly and cyclically in normal adults. While testis histology is already an invaluable tool for identifying and describing developmental differences in evolution and disease, methods for standardized, digital image analysis […]
Describing the origins and effects of the mutations that occur in normal individuals: How the telephone game plays out inside the human body
By Nicole Rockweiler In the children’s game of telephone, one person whispers a message to a second person and then that person whispers the message to a third person and so on. At the end of the game, the original message is compared to last message. This game plays out on a colossal scale in […]
Comparative single-cell analysis of biopsies clarifies pathogenic mechanisms in Klinefelter syndrome
Eisa’s paper is now available online in American Journal of Human Genetics. Congratulations! Abstract Klinefelter syndrome (KS), also known as 47, XXY, is characterized by a distinct set of physiological abnormalities, commonly including infertility. The molecular basis for Klinefelter-related infertility is still unclear, largely because of the cellular complexity of the testis and the intricate […]
Variant PNLDC1, Defective piRNA Processing, and Azoospermia
Liina’s paper with GEMINI collaborators is now available in New England Journal of Medicine. The paper describes our discovery of PNLDC1 as a new male infertility gene. One really interesting aspect is that we were able to use small RNA sequencing of testis tissue from the patients to confirm defective piRNA processing associated with PNLDC1 […]
Variants in GCNA, X-linked germ-cell genome integrity gene, identified in men with primary spermatogenic failure
Another paper by the GEMINI Consortium is available online in Human Genetics. Congratulations to all! Abstract Male infertility impacts millions of couples yet, the etiology of primary infertility remains largely unknown. A critical element of successful spermatogenesis is maintenance of genome integrity. Here, we present a genomic study of spermatogenic failure (SPGF). Our initial analysis […]
Lack of evidence for a role of PIWIL1 variants in human male infertility
GEMINI collaborators publish letter in Cell disputing previously published data claiming the role of PIWIL1 D-box region mutations in human azoospermia. The article is now available online. Congratulations!
The Sertoli cell expressed gene secernin-1 (Scrn1) is dispensable for male fertility in the mouse
The latest paper from GEMINI collaborators investigating the role of Scrn1 in male fertility is now available online in Developmental Dynamics. Congratulations to all! Abstract Background: Male infertility is a prevalent clinical presentation for which there is likely a strong genetic component due to the thousands of genes required for spermatogenesis. Within this study we investigated […]