Professor Xun Lan from the School of Basic Medical Sciences at Tsinghua University and Director Hongxing Liu from Hebei Yanda Lu Daopei Hospital have published a research article entitled “Integrative scATAC-seq and mtDNA mutation analysis reveals disease-driven regulatory aberrations in AML” in Science Bulletin. This study leverages single-cell multi-omics technologies to investigate the regulatory aberrations caused by mutations in the transcription factor WT1 and in cis-regulatory elements that drive acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The research also uncovers tumor clones and relapse-associated markers linked to AML relapse, offering new insights into the mechanisms of disease progression and potential avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Researchers have documented their use of a new RNA sequencing technology to uncover molecular drivers of cellular differentiation that could lead to better regenerative therapies. In addition to being used in the lab, the technique, Rapid Precision Run-On Sequencing (rPRO-seq), has the potential to help doctors understand patients’ disease states and response to treatment in real time.

California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) raise their young in crazy places. Cliffsides or rockfall on the sides of mountains are the typical haunts of condor families, making nest monitoring difficult for even the most intrepid field biologists to achieve. A new paper titled “Modeling Individual-level and Population-level Nest Success of California Condors from Movement Data,” published in the Journal of Raptor Research, demonstrates the efficacy of using statistical modeling paired with GPS tracking to remotely determine whether condor nests are successful. The methods featured in this study proved correct in assessing nest fate for 63 out of 65 nests, an accuracy of 97%. The species is expanding its range and nesting further afield from condor management hubs, often on private or inaccessible land. For a species still dependent on human management, tools like these could prove highly useful in keeping a close eye on the health of wild populations and better informing conservation decisions. Additionally, these methods could be applicable for other tracked wildlife species that are difficult to monitor in the field.