by Virginie Vignard  and Delphine Fradin

Received: 13 March 2018;  Published: 15 May 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1802020

Melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer with high incidence worldwide. There is growing evidence that aberrantly expressed non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a role in the development, progression and dissemination of melanoma tumor cells. Among the many types of ncRNAs described in this review, the functions of micro- and long non-coding RNAs are described and related to the six hallmarks of cancer. Recently, ncRNAs discovered in body fluids have become known as one of the most promising groups of oncological bioma [...]

by Peter Bauer  , Gabriele Wildhardt  , Dieter Gläser  , Clemens Müller-Reible  , Hanno J. Bolz  , Hanns-Georg Klein  , Ulrich Finckh  and Ute Hehr

Received: 24 September 2017;  Published: 28 April 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1802019

On behalf of the German Society of Human Genetics, we present guidelines for molecular genetic diagnostic testing using high-throughput technology, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS). These guidelines have been formulated by an expert group and reviewed by members of the German Society of Human Genetics. Building on the existing EuroGentest guidelines for diagnostic NGS, these updated guidelines incorporate additional aspects and country-specific topics. New considerations include the introduction of a check [...]

by Stanislav Birko  , Marie-Eve Lemoine  , Minh Thu Nguyen  and Vardit Ravitsky

Received: 10 February 2018;  Published: 19 April 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1802018

Women’s reproductive autonomy, and its translation into informed free choice regarding prenatal screening, is a dominant concept in the bioethical discourse concerning prenatal screening. This discourse is based on the premise that access to information regarding the pregnancy promotes autonomous decision-making. However, studies show that the offer of prenatal screening as a routine part of pregnancy care is not supported, to a large degree, by appropriate informed consent mechanisms. This means that the implement [...]

by Nagarajan Paramasivam  , Martin Granzow  , Christina Evers  , Katrin Hinderhofer  , Stefan Wiemann  , Claus R. Bartram  , Roland Eils  and Matthias Schlesner

Received: 24 October 2017;  Published: 16 April 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1802017

Background: With genome sequencing entering clinics as a diagnostic tool to detect genetic disorders, there is an increasing need for bioinformatics-based solutions that enable precise causal variant identification in a timely manner. Workflows for the identification of candidate disease-causing variants usually perform the following tasks: i) identification of variants; ii) filtering of variants to remove polymorphisms and technical artifacts; and iii) prioritization of remaining variants to provide a small set of [...]

by Eunise M. Aquino  , Miles C. Benton  , Larisa M. Haupt  , Heidi G. Sutherland  , Lyn R. Griffiths  and Rodney A. Lea

Received: 12 February 2018;  Published: 11 April 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1802016

DNA methylation involves the covalent transfer of a methyl group to the C-5 position of the cytosine ring on a DNA strand. DNA methylation is both heritable and modifiable and can affect gene expression. In recent years, epigenome-wide association studies using high-throughput technologies have associated variation in DNA methylation levels with normal and pathological aging processes in human populations. DNA methylation patterns have been used to construct epigenetic clocks which can serve as potential biomarkers [...]

by Tobias Geis  , Ute Hehr  , Roland Brandl  , Saskia Herbst  , Hugo Segerer  , Michael Melter  and Sophie Hinreiner

Received: 31 August 2017;  Published: 06 March 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1801015

Background: Neonatal muscular hypotonia is a common clinical feature on neonatal intensive care units with a broad spectrum of etiologies. Besides more common and obvious underlying conditions like prematurity or Down syndrome many rare disorders with often poor prognosis need to be considered. Congenital brain malformations detected on ultrasound or/and magnetic resonance imaging might constitute the clinical hallmark in differential diagnosis. We report on our approach combining cerebral imaging and application o [...]

by Jiani Yin  , David Oleson  and Christian P. Schaaf

Received: 31 August 2017;  Published: 24 February 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1801014

Autism spectrum disorder is a clinically heterogeneous condition, characterized by social deficits, language impairment, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interest. Autism displays significant genetic heterogeneity. In the past one and a half decades, next generation sequencing has enabled identification of many variants that predispose to autism. These discoveries have improved understanding of the disease etiology of autism spectrum disorder. In this review article, we will address how development of next gene [...]

by Martina C Cornel

Received: 13 July 2017;  Published: 11 February 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1801013

Technology makes it possible to expand many of the current screening programs. Initiatives for preconception screening of carrier status of recessive diseases, prenatal screening of aneuploidies and neonatal screening were initially undertaken by targeting one or at most, a few, conditions. Tandem mass spectrometry and genomic technologies, such as sequencing and panel testing, make it possible to increase the scope of these programs to include more disorders or markers. While inclusion of a larger number of condit [...]

by Khue Vu Nguyen

Received: 18 January 2018;  Published: 31 January 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1801012

With the increasing ability to control infectious and nutritional diseases in developed countries, there has come the realization that genetic and epigenetic regulation in diseases are a major cause of disability, death, and human tragedy. Here, I discuss current knowledge about this matter including the diagnosis, counseling, treatment and management as well as some current therapeutic interventions such as gene, stem cell, epigenetic therapies and future directions in the field.

by Kerstin Grund  , Dominik Sturm  , Christian Sutter  , Felix Sahm  , Katrin Hinderhofer  , Christian Kratz  , Daniel Schrimpf  , Andreas von Deimling  , Kristian W. Pajtler  , David TW Jones  , Stefan M. Pfister  and Nicola Dikow

Received: 01 September 2017;  Published: 05 December 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1704011

The study “Molecular Neuropathology 2.0” (MNP2.0) offers an integrated histo-molecular diagnosis including the detection of potential therapeutic targets for a large cohort of pediatric patients with primary CNS tumors. After obtaining parental and/or patient consent, in this study germline DNA analysis of all study subjects bridges the gap between scientific genetic analysis and medical care. The study’s workflow takes into consideration the conditions of a multicenter study, legal stipulations, as well as the nee [...]