Communications of the ACM
New Gene Sequencing Software Could Aid in Early Detection, Treatment of Cancer
A research team from the U.S. and Canada has developed computational software that determines whether a human DNA sample includes an epigenetic add-on linked to cancer and other adverse health conditions.
Credit: Will Kirk/JHU
New computational software developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, and the University of Toronto in Canada can detect the presence of an epigenetic add-on associated with cancer and other health conditions.
Cytosine methylation is an altered version of the cytosine nucleotide in DNA and can harm healthy cells.
The researchers say the new software works with an Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION sequencer to map DNA samples. As DNA strands are pulled through the device's small pores, distinctive changes in an electric current enable the software to identify the sequence of the DNA and any methylation marks.
The researchers used synthetically methylated DNA to train the software to differentiate between methylated cytosine and regular cytosine.
The team believes the software could help devise new ways to detect cancer at earlier stages and develop targeted treatments.
From Johns Hopkins University
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