Jun 11, 2020

GSC scientists uncover the complex physical structure of the Sitka spruce mitochondrial genome

After billions of years of evolution, all animals, plants and fungi still share one important feature: the mitochondria; the so-called “powerhouse of the cell”. DNA sequencing technology has revealed that, when compared to their animal cell counterparts, some plant mitochondrial genomes are highly complex, forming intricate structures that remain to be understood by scientists.
May 22, 2020

How B.C. scientists are addressing the COVID-19 testing challenge

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, public health authorities around the world are facing a significant challenge: ensuring a large enough supply of reagents to scale-up diagnostic testing. Researchers at Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at BC Cancer (GSC), the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) are working to develop new non-proprietary reagents to support current and future testing in British Columbia.
Apr 30, 2020

The long and the short of it: scientists develop a tool for rapid genome assembly

Rapid advancements in DNA sequencing have spurred the development of commercial technologies capable of enormous throughput, reducing both the amount of time and money required to sequence a genome and shifting the bottleneck from obtaining DNA sequences to assembling and analyzing them. But a new tool has now come into play, reducing both the time and computational power needed to combine the millions of pieces of a genome into one complete picture.
Apr 09, 2020

Scientists reveal key insights into drug resistance in patients with del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome

For myelodysplastic syndrome patients harbouring a particular genetic variant, lenalidomide is the drug of choice. But for about half of these patients, resistance will develop within two years, rendering the drug ineffective. By using DNA sequencing, scientists have now revealed key insights into drug resistance, uncovering a potential strategy for the early identification of patients who may not benefit from lenalidomide treatment.     
Mar 16, 2020

The GSC’s response to COVID-19

We all have a responsibility to take precautionary measures in order to help stop the global transmission of COVID-19. The GSC is helping our employees to find ways to attend work safely, including working remotely. We are also moving in-person gatherings to virtual interactions, and all tours of our facilities have been cancelled until further notice. For now, we will continue to accept and sequence samples and maintain all functionality including database and analytical capacities, prioritizing clinical and Personalized OncoGenomics pipelines.

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