News and insights

Subscribe to our newsletter

Most likely, German physician Robert Koch never dreamed of genomes. When he died in 1910, Koch certainly didn’t know that a century later his work would still have echoes in the research of physicians and geneticists interested in our genes’ inner workings and how the code within us leads to disease.

Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the United States. Risk factors for the disease are varied and include factors such as advanced age and diet, but most cases share something crucial that scientists hope can usher in new treatments. In nearly all cases, the DNA in colon tumors harbors mutations in a key intracellular process or “pathway,” leading to the buildup of proteins that drive uncontrolled growth of cells.

1000 Genomes Project

Focusing on fine features in order to see "the big picture" seems almost counterintuitive, but that is exactly what is happening in the field of genomics. Researchers are sequencing human genomes, cataloging the variation in people's genetic code – the As, Ts, Gs, and Cs of human DNA that serve as each individual’s biological blueprint – to get a broader view of human health, a deeper knowledge of human genetic history, and a clearer understanding of why some people develop certain diseases while others do not.