New statistical method exponentially increases ability to discover genetic insights
Individual genes have the ability to influence more than one trait or characteristic. But this feature is often discovered through a type of analysis called pleiotropy, which requires merging a patient’s data from electronic health records at many different places—a challenge given privacy stipulations. A team at the Perelman School of Medicine created a new method that could make pleiotropy easier to perform and more widely used, called Sum-Share. The statistical model pulls summary-level information from many different sites to generate significant insights.
In a test of the method, published in Nature Communications, Sum-Share’s developers detected more than 1,700 DNA-level variations that could be associated with five different cardiovascular conditions. Using patient-specific information from just one site, which is the current norm, would have found just one variation.
On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.
Penn researchers Vanessa and Alexis North are studying one of the largest collections of Egyptian blue objects ever found in the ancient Near East, shedding new light on how the world’s first synthetic pigment may have traveled far beyond Egypt.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Penn student develops a way for computer chips to run more efficiently
Fluid Silicon, a platform from President’s Sustainability Prize winner Nhlanhla Mavuso, allows computer chips to continuously monitor their health and self-tune as their characteristics change. The technology has the potential to reduce energy usage in data centers and improve reliability in mission-critical applications.
