Daily Archives: April 13, 2021

The time Batman turned into a monster truck and 9 of the other strangest Dark Knight incarnations – GamesRadar

Posted: April 13, 2021 at 6:43 am

DC has published some wild and strange iterations of Batman over the decades, but maybe no single story has ever jam-packed as many into its pages as Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Dark Nights: Death Metal, the first collection of which hit shelves April 6.

From a monster truck, to a whole damn city, to one of the most disturbing alternative takes on a known superhero ever, Death Metal contains some of the strangest versions of the Dark Knight Detective.

After all, Death Metal is an event that takes just about every DC hero (and villain) and turns them into some version of Batman. But the series is also just the tip of the Bat-iceberg.

Here's a look at 10 of DC's kookiest and weirdest Caped Crusaders ever.

What would the Batman of a Mad Max-esque universe look like? Well, maybe something like a Batmobile monster truck.

In this Batman's world, a version of his consciousness has been uploaded into all digital technology, allowing Bruce to keep the entire world in a constant surveillance state. As one can imagine, the people of this world didn't take too kindly to being ruled by a global dictatorship so they destroyed all of the technology that bore Batman's consciousness and killed Bruce Wayne.

Unfortunately, they forgot this one monster truck, so it decided to call itself Batmobeast and team up with the Batman Who Laughs before falling to Swamp Thing. Turns out Bruce Wayne is a little less resourceful when he only has the body of a monster truck to work with.

A frequent theme in Batman comics is that Batman and Gotham City are two entities that are intrinsically tied together by fate or duty, or some combination of the two. The Castle Bat concept takes that a step further.

As Bruce Wayne gets older and watches his peers fall and his son Damian unable to take up the mantle of Batman, he takes drastic action. Sacrificing Damian in an occult ritual, Bruce is able to imbue the entire city with his being - literally becoming Gotham City itself. Castle Bat is the personification of Bruce's fear of failure - that if something were ever to happen to him then there would be no one to protect Gotham the way he has.

But that fear has made him delusional and dangerous. He teams up with the Batman Who Laughs and quickly takes over the Gotham of Earth-0 to allow Laughs and his Dark Knights to enact their reign of terror.

Here's one way to print money: combine Batman with arguably the biggest hero in Marvel's stable in the '90s, Wolverine. Of course, the Amalgam Comics team-up between Marvel and DC would only last 24 issues total, with only two of those starring Dark Claw, but the concept could have had legs.

After his parents are murdered, Logan Wayne is sent to Canada to live with his uncle. Then when his uncle is murdered, the Canadian government sends Logan to live in a foster home run by nuns. Once he's old enough, he joins the Air Force and eventually gets enlisted in the Canadian Super Soldier program, Weapon X.

That program is shut down after Logan and the only other subject are deemed ineffective. Logan is not a killing machine and his counterpart, Creed H. Quinn, has gone mad from the process. But the experiments awaken Logan's latent abilities of super senses and a healing factor. His bones were bonded with adamantium and he travels the world to further train his body and mind. When he returns to New Gotham City, a great threat has emerged, the Hyena (aka Creed Quinn), and Logan must take everything he's learned to take him down.

Dark Claw is essentially an action figure come to life, and he utilizes a variety of claw-themed gadgets including the claw-radar, claw-arangs, claw-scanner, and of course, the Claw-Copter.

He's evil. He's Batman. And he's uploaded his consciousness into a giant mechanical T. Rex. 'Nuff said, right?

There's a little bit more to Batmanasaurus Rex than that. Following the destruction of the Batcave, Bruce Wayne wonders if his fight against crime has been as futile as a T.Rex's tiny arms since he keeps allowing supervillains to live. So after his last ditch effort to save himself by uploading himself into a robotic T.Rex body, he does what anyone would do: he goes to Arkham Asylum to kill the staff and inmates. Later, he's recruited by the Batman Who Laughs.

His current whereabouts are unknown but if he hasn't been erased from existence, it seems unlikely that an evil, robot dinosaur will stay hidden for long.

If you've missed the integration of the Watchmen into the DCU over the last few years, then the existence of Batmanhattan is a helluva way to find out about it. (Be warned there are some mild spoilers for Death Metal coming.)

Spinning out of trying to reproduce the energy he notices coming off of the Comedian's Button, Bruce Wayne ends up recreating the intrinsic field generator that would give Jon Osterman his powers in Watchmen. The Batman Who Laughs traps Bruce inside the machine and, just like Osterman, it disintegrates his body until he regenerates it sometime later but is now imbued with god-like powers.

Unfortunately for Batmanhattan, the Batman Who Laughs has more than a few tricks up his sleeve and manages to lobotomize the omniscient avenger during a moment of weakness. But even still, not exactly the direction you'd imagine for the Caped Crusader.

This is another instance of the concept on its face not seeming like anything too strange until you dig into how these creators decided to execute it. The basic premise here is that in a world where an angry and violent Bruce Wayne kills his own parents as a child, he takes inspiration from robins' own invasive tendencies, to overthrow the current establishment of superheroes.

Unfortunately for the heroes of this world, even a young, deranged version of Bruce Wayne is as dangerous and resourceful as his adult counterpart. He modifies the Anti-Life Equation to create the zombie-adjacent, death-spreading Anti-Living. He melts Flash's muscles with an anti-Speed Force poison and stuffs his mom's body into Barry's Flash Ring. He arranges for Ted Kord to be eaten by a giant beetle.

The Robin King is by far one of the more intense, out-there iterations of the Dark Knight.

The Tangent Comics line of the late-90s sought to give readers a universe that was more influenced by the presence of superbeings than the DCU that readers had been used to. Dan Jurgens spearheaded the line with input from creators like Peter David, Karl Kesel, Mark Millar, Kurt Busiek, John Ostrander and more.

But their vision for Batman struck closer to something out of a Marvel UK Captain Britain comic than Bob Kane and Bill Finger's original. Sir William was one of the Knights of the Round Table. After being seduced by Morgana Le Fay and tricked into fighting King Arthur, he was cursed to never leave his castle (the aptly named Castle Bat) until he had atoned for his sins. To add insult to injury, he was also written out of every Arthurian legend.

He spent centuries alone until he realized he would project his spirit into inanimate objects. This led to the creation of his Batman persona, a red-armored hero who protected London. Batman by way of Deadman, sort of? Needless to say, the Tangent Comics line didn't last long but Sir William has popped up as recently as 2015's Convergence.

One of Grant Morrison's goals with his run on Batman was to figure out a way to make everything that had happened in the character's history to that point count in some real way. Considering the character's long history and the generally bonkers nature of the Silver Age, this would seem to be a tall task.

Originally, Zurr-En-Arrh existed as a planet where an alien scientist creates his own red and purple Batman suit as he's inspired by Bruce Wayne's adventures. The two Batmen team up to defeat some robots and Bruce goes on his merry way. But in bringing that concept into post-Crisis continuity, Morrison had his work cut out for him.

During the run, Batman's mind is erased by Simon Hurt and we find out that he has a backup personality stored in his subconscious, presumably exactly for situations like this. Triggered by the phrase "Zurr-En-Arrh," a phrase that is rooted in Bruce misremembering his father saying the words "Zorro in Arkham," Bruce takes on this psychotic personality and the last shreds of his sanity are represented by Bat-Mite, a imp from the Fifth Dimension.

Batman takes on Simon Hurt and the Black Glove. But he is actually defeated by the Joker and buried alive. The Zur-En-Arrh personality goes away over time but this remains a strange but inventive way to make the Silver Age relevant to more recent continuity.

There are two Elseworlds stories that share this name and in this entry we are specifically talking about Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #4 by Brian Augustyn, Mark Waid and Joe Staton. Mashing up Batman with other heroes and villains is one thing and even taking inspiration from famous works of film and literature is a pretty common practice but Augstyn and Waid's execution of this story is what really stands out.

After the death of Harvey Dent and Bruce Wayne, a dark-haired man goes around Gotham interviewing those close to them to uncover the truth behind Batman and Bruce Wayne. This story puts Harvey and Bruce's rivalry at its center and changes the path for both characters by sparing Martha Wayne's life in the attack that would take Thomas Wayne's. As a result, Harvey and Bruce see their roles reversed - Harvey becomes a bat-themed vigilante while Bruce becomes a newspaper publisher looking to reform the city. Ultimately, a run-in with some acid leads to Harvey still taking on his scarred appearance beneath his mask and coming more violent. But Bruce still armors up to fight him in the issue's finale but this is a strange one all around.

In 2001, Stan Lee would produce his only work for DC - a short-lived imprint called "Just Imagine..." that would see The Man reinventing classic DC heroes in his trademark style. This meant an alliterative name, some twist on their origin and a new costume.

So Stan's Batman was Wayne Williams, an African-American man with no powers and a great fortune who is framed for the murder of his father. While in prison, he befriends a scientist named Frederick Grant who helps him develop his mind and body. Wayne receives a full pardon when he saves the warden during a prison riot and uses his newfound freedom to become.... a wrestling superstar that goes by the name Batman. Once he gets revenge on the man who framed him, he dedicates his life to fighting crime with Grant as his friend and confidante.

That might seem pretty standard for a Stan Lee story but Stan and artist Joe Kubert's plan for his costume left a bit to be desired. The two creators may have taken "I will become the bat!" a bit too literally and Wayne Williams ends up looking like an unfortunate cross between gargoyle and Robin Williams' character in Ferngully.

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The time Batman turned into a monster truck and 9 of the other strangest Dark Knight incarnations - GamesRadar

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Bionano Genomics Announces Record Number of Presentations on Optical Genome Mapping and Structural Variation at the 2021 Annual Clinical Genetics…

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Sixteen talks and posters, fourteen of which are from US institutions, to be presented across all four of Bionanos main target growth markets: prenatal, postnatal/constitutional genetics, blood cancers and solid tumor analysis

SAN DIEGO, April 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO) today announced it largest presence to date at the 2021 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), which is being held in a virtual format from April 13-16, 2021. The meeting features a total of sixteen presentations by Saphyr customers and Bionano scientists, almost three times the number presented last year and nearly all based on work done in the United States.

ACMG this year has the greatest number of presentations featuring Bionano data to date, commented Erik Holmlin, PhD, CEO of Bionano Genomics. We believe this multitude of presentations shows how significant Bionanos presence and that of optical genome mapping (OGM) has become in the medical genetics community. The progress we are seeing here from the US market, where almost all the data being presented at ACMG comes from, is particularly encouraging since the US has a higher barrier to adoption that could be addressed with data outlining the value proposition of our products and technology. We are thrilled to share this important clinical data in all four main target segments (prenatal, postnatal/constitutional genetics, blood cancers and solid tumor analysis) at the meeting.

Blood Cancers Oral and Poster Presentations:

Platform Presentation, Thursday, April 15, 2021, 5:30 pm. OP340 Optical Genome Mapping for Assessment of Genomic Aberrations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Multicenter Evaluation

eP085 Efficient workflow for detection of clinically relevant abnormalities in leukemias according to NCCN guidelines

eP068 Optical Genome Mapping Detects Rare Genetic Drivers in Pediatric B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Prenatal Oral and Poster Presentations:

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Product Theater (available on demand): Next-Generation Cytogenomic Characterization of Prenatal Cases by Optical Genome Mapping

eP501 Generation of a Prenatal Workflow for Identification of Structural Variation by Optical Genome Mapping (OGM)

eP502 Next-Generation Cytogenomic Characterization of Prenatal Cases by Optical Genome Mapping

Post-Natal Oral and Poster Presentations:

Platform Presentation, Wednesday, 4/14, 4:15 pm, part of Scientific Concurrent Session Hot Topics: Pushing the Boundaries of Genome Sequencing Clinically Relevant Genes Hiding In Plain Sight And How Long Range Technologies Resolve Them

eP436 Identification of Structural Variation in Constitutional Disorders by Optical Genome Mapping

eP406 Optical Genome Mapping Enables Constitutional Chromosomal Aberration Detection: Proof-of-Principle Study with 85 Samples

eP294 High Throughput Analysis of Disease Repeat Expansions and Contractions by Optical Mapping

eP447 Improving and Accelerating Clinical Molecular Diagnosis of Severe Hemophilia A with Optical Genome Mapping Technology

eP370 Fascioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Genetic Testing by Optic Mapping

Solid Tumors Poster Presentations:

eP083 Clinical Utility of Optical Genome Mapping (OGM) in Cytogenetic Analysis of Brain Tumors

eP388 Optical Genomic Mapping Reveals Balanced and Unbalanced Cytogenetic Findings Associated with Tumor-forming Potential in a Prostate Cancer Cell line (M2205)

Ark Invest analyst breaks down Adaptive Biotechnologies and Invitae – CNBC

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Chad Robins, CEO of Adaptive Biotechnologies.

Anjali Sundaram | CNBC

Ark Invest analyst Simon Barnett on Monday explained the firm's approach to what it calls the genomic revolution, breaking down two of its favorite holdings: Adaptive Biotechnologies and Invitae.

In an interview on CNBC's "Closing Bell," Barnett said the Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest sees major potential for investors in the branch of molecular biology known as genomics, calling it "one of the most transformative investment opportunities of the century."

Ark's family of funds includes the Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG), which seeks to offer investors exposure to areas such as DNA sequencing technology and molecular diagnostics.

ARKG is down about 7% year to date.

However, in the past 12 months, the ETF has risen roughly 160%. The firm's flagship fund is theArk Innovation ETF(ARKK), which has fallen about 1.6% so far in 2021. ARKK also is up nearly 160% in the past 12 months.

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Global Whole Genome and Exome Sequencing Markets Report 2021-2025 Including Updated Whole Genome Sequence of Sars-Cov-2 – ResearchAndMarkets.com -…

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TipRanks

The investing game is rarely plain sailing. While no doubt investors would like the choices that make up their portfolio to always go up, the reality is more complicated. There are periods when even shares of the worlds most successful companies have been on a downward trajectory for one reason or another. While its no fun watching a stock you own drift to the bottom, any savvy investor knows that if the companys fundamentals are sound to begin with, the pullback is often a gift in disguise. This is where the chance for strong returns really comes into play. Buy the Dip is not a clich without reason. With this in mind, we scoured the TipRanks database and picked out 3 names which have been heading south recently, specifically ones pinpointed by those in the know as representing a buying opportunity. Whats more, all 3 are rated Strong Buys by the analyst consensus and projected to rake in at least 70% of gains over the next 12 months. Here are the details. Flexion Therapeutics (FLXN) Lets first take a look at Flexion, a pharma company specializing in the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. The company has two drugs currently in early-stage clinical trials but one which has already been approved by the FDA; Zilretta is an extended-release corticosteroid for the management of osteoarthritis knee pain. The drug was granted regulatory approval in 2017, and Flexion owns the exclusive worldwide rights. FLXN stock has found 2021 hard going and is down by 30% year-to-date. However, the recent weakness, says Northland analyst Carl Byrnes has created a unique buying opportunity. Like many biopharmas, Flexions marketing efforts took a hit during the height of the pandemic last year, as shutdowns and restrictions impacted its operations. However, Byrnes anticipates Zilretta to exhibit stellar growth in 2021 and beyond. We remain highly confident that the demand for ZILRETTA will continue to strengthen, bolstered by product awareness and positive clinical experiences of both patients and HCP, augmented by improvements in HCP interactions and deferral of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgical procedures, the analyst said. Byrnes expects Zilrettas 2021 sales to surge by 45% year-over-year to $125 million, and then increase by a further 50% to $187.5 million the following year. That revenue growth will go hand in hand with massive share appreciation; Byrnes price target is $35, suggesting upside of ~339% over the next 12 months. Needless to say Byrnes rating is an Outperform (i.e. Buy). (To watch Byrnes track record, click here) Barring one lone Hold, all of Byrnes colleagues agree. With 9 Buys, FLXN stock boasts a Strong Buy consensus rating. While not as optimistic as Byrnes objective, the $20.22 average price target is still set to yield returns of an impressive 153% within the 12-month time frame. (See FLXN stock analysis on TipRanks) Protara Therapeutics (TARA) Staying in the pharma industry, next up we have Protara. Unlike Flexion, the cancer and rare disease-focused biotech has no therapies approved yet. However, the picture should soon become clear regarding the timing of a BLA (biologics license application) for TARA-002, the companys investigational cell therapy for a rare pediatric indication - lymphatic malformations (LM). TARA-002 is based on the immunopotentiator OK-432, currently approved as Picibanil in Japan and Taiwan for the treatment of multiple cancer indications as well as LM. Currently, Protara is seeking to get the FDAs acceptance that TARA-002 is comparable to OK-432. If everything goes according to plan, the company anticipates potential BLA filing in H2:2021 and potential approval in H1:2022. Protara shares have tumbled 40% year-to-date. That said, Guggenheim analyst Etzer Darout believes the stock is significantly undervalued. We estimate risk-adjusted peak sales of ~$170M (75% PoS) in the US alone (biologics exclusivity to 2034-2035), the 5-star analyst said. The company has outlined a no additional study scenario that estimates a US launch in 2022 and an additional registration study scenario that estimates a 2023 launch and we see current levels as a buying opportunity ahead of regulatory clarity on LM. Furthermore, Tara is expected to submit an IND (investigational new drug) for a Phase 1 trial for TARA-002 in 2H21 for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Darout notes 80% (~65K) of all newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients suffer from this specific condition including ~45% that are high grade with high unmet need. The company also owns IV Choline, a Phase 3-ready asset, for which the FDA has already granted both Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation for IFALD (intestinal failure-associated liver disease). Based on all of the above, Darout rates TARA a Buy and has a $48 price target for the shares. The implication for investors? Upside of a strong 225%. (To watch Darouts track record, click here) Overall, with 3 recent Buy ratings under its belt, TARA gets a Strong Buy from the analyst consensus view. The stock is backed by an optimistic average price target, too; at $43.67, the shares are anticipated to appreciate by ~198% in the year ahead. (See TARA stock analysis on TipRanks) Green Thumb Industries (GTBIF) Last but not least is Green Thumb, a leading US cannabis MSO (multi state operator). This Chicago-based company is one of the stalwarts of the rising cannabis sector, boasting the second highest market-cap in the industry and exhibiting impressive growth over the last year. In 2020, revenue increased by 157% from 2019, to reach $556.6 million. That said, despite delivering another excellent quarterly statement in March, and being well-positioned to capitalize on additional states legalizing cannabis, the stock has pulled back recently after the company was hit by a damning Chicago Tribune article. According to Chicago Tribune, the company is being investigated by the fed over "pay to play" payments regarding the procurement of cannabis licenses in Illinois. Countering the claims, GTBIF management said the allegations are unfounded and that there is no factual evidence to support them. Furthermore, the company pointed out it has not even been contacted by the authorities regarding the matter. Who to believe, then? Its an easy choice, according to Roth Capitals Scott Fortune. We believe these tenuous claims create an opportunity to own the best-in-class operator currently off 25% from recent highs, the 5-atar analyst opined. In our view, the GTI business and track record of execution is not at risk in terms of the seemingly baseless accusations. We will continue to monitor any new additional incremental evidence potentially surfacing but believe the allegations are unfounded. We believe the upside opportunity remains compelling at these levels. Going by Fortunes $45 price target, shares will be changing hands for a 70% premium a year from now. Fortunes rating remains a Buy. (To watch Fortunes track record, click here) The negative news has done little to dampen enthusiasm around this stock on Wall Street. The analyst consensus rates GTBIF a Strong Buy, based on a unanimous 12 Buys. The average price target, at $47.71, suggests an upside of 79% over the next 12 months. (See GTBIF stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Global Whole Genome and Exome Sequencing Markets Report 2021-2025 Including Updated Whole Genome Sequence of Sars-Cov-2 - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

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Genomic testing services in pathology & immunology department to be expanded Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis – Washington…

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Changes aimed at improving diagnosis of cancer, inherited diseases

Genetic and genomic testing is driving advances in precision medicine. Such testing provides the data that, when combined with information about disease status and environmental factors, enable doctors to move away from one-size-fits-all treatment plans to personalized therapies tailored to individual needs.

The Department of Pathology & Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is reorganizing and expanding its genomic medicine testing services to take advantage of advances in genetic and genomic sciences and improve clinical care. Several new tests for cancer and inherited diseases are in the works. The department also is redesigning its website to make it easier for physicians to quickly identify the most appropriate tests for their patients.

As part of the reorganization, the department is establishing two new sections: a molecular oncology section, led by Eric Duncavage, MD, and an inherited diseases section, headed by Jonathan Heusel, MD, PhD.

The School of Medicine has been at the forefront of genetics research for many years, including leadership in whole genome sequencing, saidRichard Cote, MD, the Edward Mallinckrodt Professor and head of the Department of Pathology & Immunology. We have long had a major stake in translating these discoveries into clinically actionable tests to better define prognosis and treatment for a wide variety of diseases. We are delighted that Jon Heusel and Eric Duncavage, widely recognized for their research, are leading the effort to enhance the departments genetic and genomic testing services.

A wide variety of different mutations can give rise to cancer, and the specific mutations carried by a particular tumor affect its susceptibility to a particular treatment. These mutations also can be used to track a tumor during therapy to determine how it is responding to therapy. Clinical cancer genomics aims to use information on tumor mutations to help identify the therapies most likely to benefit the patient and avoid those least likely to help.

Duncavage

Duncavage and his Washington University colleagues recently developed a diagnostic test, ChromoSeq, for blood cancers, based on sequencing the whole genome. This comprehensive analysis has greater sensitivity than traditional testing, providing additional information that could help clinicians assess each patients risk of severe disease and choose the best treatment plan. The test was evaluated in a clinical trial of patients treated at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Results of that trial were published in March in The New England Journal of Medicine. ChromoSeq whole genome sequencing for blood cancers will be available as a clinical test through the Department of Pathology & Immunology.

Until recently, we could only analyze a limited set of genes or chromosomes because whole genome sequencing was too expensive for routine clinical use, Duncavage said. But recent advances in sequencing technologies and data analysis techniques have driven down the cost of whole genome sequencing in both time and resources. We showed that the technology could be used for blood cancers, and we are working on applying it to other kinds of cancers.

In addition, Heusel and Duncavage are spearheading an effort to develop tests to identify people with an inherited predisposition to cancer. Most famously, variations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, but dozens of other genes have been linked to a range of cancers. In the interest of efficiency, the tests under development are based on sequencing only the 2% of the genome that codes for proteins. This tiny fraction of the genome known as the exome is where nearly all mutations associated with disease risk are found.

Heusel

As chief of the inherited diseases section, Heusel will oversee the development and operation of tests for rare genetic diseases. Some of the people most in need of whole genome testing are babies born with mysterious ailments that appear to have genetic causes. Sequencing an affected newborns entire genome and often the genomes of both parents, too can be the fastest way to find an explanation for a babys condition.

Heusel and colleagues also are working on an improved test for disorders of somatic mosaicism, a group of conditions characterized by mutations in some cells but not others. Patients can have a wide range of symptoms, including overgrowth of one part of the body, such as the hand; skin spots or rashes; and abnormal tangles of blood vessels. The symptoms depend not only on what mutation has occurred but in which cells it has occurred. The researchers are building a faster, cheaper test that will allow more genes and more conditions to be screened.

Genetic testing particularly what we call next-generation sequencing, which involves sequencing dozens or hundreds of genes or whole exomes or whole genomes its transforming medicine, transforming the way we understand the basis of disease, how to diagnose it and how to treat it, Heusel said. What were really trying to do in the department now is make it easier for clinicians to take advantage of all the new genetic and genomic diagnostic tools that are becoming available.

Washington University School of Medicines 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, consistently ranking among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

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Genomic testing services in pathology & immunology department to be expanded Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis - Washington...

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Bionano Genomics Announces Presentations on Optical Genome Mapping at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2021 – Yahoo…

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Publication Outlines Potential for Optical Genome Mapping with Bionanos Saphyr System to be the Foundation of a New Workflow in Prenatal Genetic…

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SAN DIEGO, April 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO) announced today a publication in the peer-reviewed journal Genes describing an analysis by optical genome mapping (OGM) of representative examples of common genetic syndromes that are the basis of prenatal genetic testing recommended by medical associations in the US and around the world. The papers authors have outlined a potential framework for OGM to be developed as the basis of a new standard of care in prenatal genetic analysis because of its ability to identify all types of structural variants (SVs).

What we are seeing now, on a consistent basis, is the demonstration of utility for OGM in a variety of applications. Development and validation of OGM assays for pre-natal analysis is an area where the field could transform itself and help physicians and their patients, commented Erik Holmlin, PhD, CEO of Bionano Genomics. Over the last year alone, we have seen a great number of publications and presentations that demonstrate Saphyrs prowess in cytogenetic analysis of genetic diseases, leukemias and solid tumors. While there remains significant work for these proof-of-concept studies to translate into broader, mainstream adoption, we believe the momentum is strong.

The publication is presented as a commentary in the special issue of Genes titled "Advances in Prenatal Genetic Screening and Diagnosis Technologies", which addresses the increasingly complex decisions physicians and couples face about the quality and quantity of genetic information they wish to access as the technology for genetic testing advances. As non-invasive prenatal screening tests (NIPT) become the standard screening tool for pregnancies around the world, OGM could provide a high-throughput, comprehensive and high-resolution follow up genome analysis in case of a positive NIPT screen or for high-risk pregnancies following an abnormal ultrasound. The study authors led by Bionano chief medical officer Dr. Alka Chaubey and Augusta University professor Dr. Ravindra Kolhe state that development and validation of assays based on OGM would enable clinicians to accurately detect all types of genetic disorders with a single technology, resulting in a workflow that is both cost-effective and has a fast turn-around time.

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Global medical associations including ACOG, ISUOG, ACMG recommend prenatal testing for the detection and prevention of genetic disorders using cytogenetic methods such as karyotype analysis, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and chromosomal microarray (CMA). Additionally, multiple molecular methods are used to identify repeat expansion and contraction disorders in routine clinical laboratories.

In this study OGM with Saphyr was used to detect a variety of genetic abnormalities in amniotic fluid and chorionic villus samples collected during pregnancy. The paper shows examples of how different OGM assays identified cases of trisomy 21 or Down syndrome, sex chromosome aneuploidy where additional copies of the X chromosome were present, DiGeorge syndrome, the most common microdeletion syndrome affecting about 1 in 4,000 births, a repeat expansion causing fragile X syndrome, and an unbalanced translocation in the fetus caused by a balanced translocation in the parent. The site-to-site reproducibility of the OGM prenatal workflow was also evaluated by analyzing 5 samples in replicates at two different sites, on different instruments, and with different operators, showing concordance across both sites.

The publication is available at https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/3/398/htm

About Bionano GenomicsBionano is a genome analysis company providing tools and services based on its Saphyr system to scientists and clinicians conducting genetic research and patient testing, and providing diagnostic testing for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities through its Lineagen business. Bionanos Saphyr system is a research use only platform for ultra-sensitive and ultra-specific structural variation detection that enables researchers and clinicians to accelerate the search for new diagnostics and therapeutic targets and to streamline the study of changes in chromosomes, which is known as cytogenetics. The Saphyr system is comprised of an instrument, chip consumables, reagents and a suite of data analysis tools. Bionano provides genome analysis services to provide access to data generated by the Saphyr system for researchers who prefer not to adopt the Saphyr system in their labs. Lineagen has been providing genetic testing services to families and their healthcare providers for over nine years and has performed over 65,000 tests for those with neurodevelopmental concerns. For more information, visit http://www.bionanogenomics.com or http://www.lineagen.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as may, will, expect, plan, anticipate, estimate, intend and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: the potential for OGM with Saphyr to serve as a foundation for a new standard of care in prenatal genetic analysis; our expectations or beliefs regarding past and potential future publications and presentations that demonstrate Saphyrs capabilities; the potential for OGM with Saphyr to improve outcomes for physicians and patients, including in the field of prenatal analysis; our beliefs regarding the potential benefits of Bionanos Saphyr technology; Saphyrs capabilities in comparison to and in conjunction with other genome analysis technologies, including in prenatal genetic testing; the potential for Saphyr to reduce or eliminate sequential and confirmatory assays and expedite patient treatment; expectations that Saphyr can allow clinicians to accurately detect all types of genetic disorders with a single technology; and the execution of Bionanos strategy. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape and the introduction of competitive products; changes in our strategic and commercial plans; our ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund our strategic plans and commercialization efforts; the ability of medical and research institutions to obtain funding to support adoption or continued use of our technologies; the loss of key members of management and our commercial team; and the risks and uncertainties associated with our business and financial condition in general, including the risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in other filings subsequently made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as of such date. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.

CONTACTSCompany Contact:Erik Holmlin, CEOBionano Genomics, Inc.+1 (858) 888-7610eholmlin@bionanogenomics.com

Investor Relations andMedia Contact:Amy ConradJuniper Point+1 (858) 366-3243amy@juniper-point.com

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Publication Outlines Potential for Optical Genome Mapping with Bionanos Saphyr System to be the Foundation of a New Workflow in Prenatal Genetic...

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NIH finds success in capturing breaths to assess and treat rare genomic disease – FierceBiotech

Posted: at 6:42 am

Rare, incurable conditions call for the most innovative treatmentsand thats exactly the approach the National Institutes of Health is taking to develop a new test for patients with methylmalonic acidemia, or MMA.

A study publishedin the journal Genetics in Medicine describes a breath test that not only measures the severity of a patients MMA, but can also assess whether genomic therapies targeting the liver would be beneficial. It can alsomonitor the bodys reaction to liver and kidney transplants,which are treatment options in extreme cases.

The genomic disorder,diagnosed in about one of every 80,000 newborns in the U.S., prevents certain proteins and fats from metabolizing, causing them to build up andtrigger kidney diseases, pancreatitis and other complications.

RELATED: The next generation of gene therapy for rare diseases forges ahead as developers weather hurdles

Rather than attempting to track metabolic protein levels in MMA patients, the team of NIH scientistsrepresenting the National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and National Institute of Mental Healthfocused instead on the actual process of metabolism. Their breath test measures the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled, since a common form of MMA interrupts the oxidation process of metabolism.

Vast fluctuations in metabolic substances in the bodies of patients make it difficult for us to tell if treatments like genome editing and transplants are likely to be successful, senior author Charles Venditti, an investigator in the NHGRI Medical Genomics and Metabolic Genetics Branch, said in a statement. Instead of looking at levels, we decided to measure metabolism itself.

To do so, patients were given a drink or feeding tube containing a commercially available food additive with a slightly heavier form of carbon than the version typically found in exhaled carbon dioxide, making it easier for the scientists to track that specific metabolic process.

The breath test found that healthy patients and those who had undergone organ transplants for MMA exhaled higher levels of the added carbon than untreatedpatients. The results highlight the tests ability to effectively measure oxidation levels and therefore determine a patients suitability for transplant.

Next, the researchers will see how well the test performs when measuring oxidation in MMA patients who have undergone gene therapies or mRNA treatments, Venditti said. Theyre also hoping to make the test available for widespread clinical and research use.

RELATED: Singapore startup develops 60-second COVID-19 breathalyzer test

Several similar diagnostic breath tests are already in use, though none for the treatment of MMA.

An FDA-approved test developed by Advanced Breath Diagnostics is used to diagnose gastroparesis, a stomach disorder, while Owlstone Medicals breath-based biopsy system has been shown to detect signs of liver disease in a single exhale. And in November, Singapore startup Breathonix said its 60-second breathalyzer test achieved 90% accuracy in screening for COVID-19.

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Merck’s CRISPRi whole-genome Libraries and Pools Pave the Way for Breakthroughs in Identifying Gene Pathways – PharmiWeb.com

Posted: at 6:42 am

Mercks CRISPRi whole-genome Libraries and Pools Pave the Way for Breakthroughs in Identifying Gene Pathways

Merck, a leading science and technology company, has launched its CRISPR inhibition (CRISPRi) whole-genome libraries and pools to complement its industry-leading suite of genome-editing products and technologies. CRISPRi is a useful tool for screening an entire genome, smaller gene family or individual targets. The CRISPRi libraries are fully customizable, providing the same flexibility as the entire family of Merck screening products.

Instead of imprecise DNA repair to knock out a gene, CRISPRi modulates gene expression, allowing for robust loss-of-function studies, even in essential genes, with fewer off-target effects. CRISPRi provides unique insights into the underlying biology often missed when only using gene knock out or overexpression studies. Using CRISPRi as a discovery tool, researchers can make scientific breakthroughs in idenfying new disease pathways or drug targets.

The whole CRISPRi libraries and pools were created by the University of California, San Francisco, USA, and further enhanced by the Life Science business of Merck, resulting in superior algorithm design and improved scaffolding that has been proven to increase gene knock down, even in difficult-to-repress targets. The CRISPRi offerings feature:

Mercks comprehensive gene modulation offering also includes CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) whole-genome libraries and pools, often used in conjunction with CRISPRi.

The Life Science business provides a full suite of screening tools for genome-editing applications including CRISPR knock out, RNAi knock down and open reading frame gain-of-function studies. Genome-editing and gene modulation technologies complement each other and used together, they can fully elucidate gene pathways and identify drug targets.

With 17 years of experience in the genome-editing field, the Life Science business of Merck is a global leader in developing innovative CRISPR tools, products and services to support every step of genome engineering-facilitated research, from basic research to therapeutic delivery.

Learn more about Mercks new CRISPRi whole-genome libraries and pools.

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Merck's CRISPRi whole-genome Libraries and Pools Pave the Way for Breakthroughs in Identifying Gene Pathways - PharmiWeb.com

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Ancient Genomes of the Earliest Europeans – Technology Networks

Posted: at 6:42 am

An international research team has sequenced the genomes of the oldest securely dated modern humans in Europe who lived around 45,000 years ago in Bacho Kiro Cave, Bulgaria. By comparing their genomes to the genomes of people who lived later in Europe and in Asia the researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, show that this early human group in Europe contributed genes to later people, particularly present-day East Asians. The researchers also identified large stretches of Neandertal DNA in the genomes of the Bacho Kiro Cave people, showing that they had Neandertal ancestors about five to seven generations back in their family histories. This suggests that mixture with Neandertals was the rule rather than the exception when the first modern humans arrived in Europe.

Last year, a research team led by researchers from the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany, reported the discovery of modern human remains found in direct association with the Initial Upper Palaeolithic stone tools at the site of Bacho Kiro Cave in Bulgaria. The oldest individuals found in the cave were directly radiocarbon dated to between 43,000 and 46,000 years ago. They are thus the earliest known dispersal of modern humans across the mid-latitudes of Eurasia.

Mateja Hajdinjak and colleagues have now sequenced the genomes of five individuals found at the Bacho Kiro Cave. Four individuals are between 43,000 to 46,000-years-old and were found together with stone tools belonging to the Initial Upper Palaeolithic, the earliest culture associated with modern humans in Eurasia. An additional individual found in the cave is around 35,000-years-old and found with stone tools of a later type. It was previously thought that bearers of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic died out without contributing genetically to modern humans arriving later. However, the researchers now show that the oldest Bacho Kiro Cave individuals, or groups closely related to them, contributed genes to present-day people. Surprisingly, this contribution is found particularly in East Asia and the Americas rather than in Europe where the Bacho Kiro Cave people lived. These genetic links to Asia mirror the links seen between the Initial Upper Palaeolithic stone tools and personal ornaments found in Bacho Kiro Cave and tools and ancient jewelry found across Eurasia to Mongolia.

The earliest people at Bacho Kiro Cave lived at a time when Neandertals were still around. The researchers therefore scanned their genomes for fragments of Neandertal DNA. We found that the Bacho Kiro Cave individuals had higher levels of Neandertal ancestry than nearly all other early humans, with the exception of a 40,000-year-old individual from Romania. Crucially, most of this Neandertal DNA comes in extremely long stretches. This shows that these individuals had Neandertal ancestors some five to seven generations back in their family trees says Mateja Hajdinjak.

Although only a handful of genomes from modern humans who lived at the same time in Eurasia as some of the last Neandertals have been recovered, nearly all of them have recent Neandertal ancestors. The results suggest that the first modern humans that arrived in Eurasia mixed frequently with Neandertals. They may even have become absorbed into resident Neandertal populations. Only later on did larger modern human groups arrive and replace the Neandertals says Svante Pbo, who coordinated the genetic research.

Reference:Hajdinjak M, Mafessoni F, Skov L, et al. Initial Upper Palaeolithic humans in Europe had recent Neanderthal ancestry. Nature. 2021;592(7853):253-257. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03335-3

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Daily Archives: April 13, 2021

The time Batman turned into a monster truck and 9 of the other strangest Dark Knight incarnations – GamesRadar

Bionano Genomics Announces Record Number of Presentations on Optical Genome Mapping and Structural Variation at the 2021 Annual Clinical Genetics…

Ark Invest analyst breaks down Adaptive Biotechnologies and Invitae – CNBC

Global Whole Genome and Exome Sequencing Markets Report 2021-2025 Including Updated Whole Genome Sequence of Sars-Cov-2 – ResearchAndMarkets.com -…

Genomic testing services in pathology & immunology department to be expanded Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis – Washington…

Bionano Genomics Announces Presentations on Optical Genome Mapping at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2021 – Yahoo…

Publication Outlines Potential for Optical Genome Mapping with Bionanos Saphyr System to be the Foundation of a New Workflow in Prenatal Genetic…

NIH finds success in capturing breaths to assess and treat rare genomic disease – FierceBiotech

Merck’s CRISPRi whole-genome Libraries and Pools Pave the Way for Breakthroughs in Identifying Gene Pathways – PharmiWeb.com

Ancient Genomes of the Earliest Europeans – Technology Networks

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