![]() ![]() Kári had the foresight to recognize that Iceland could provide an ideal environment for the study of human population genetics. “He was both literally and figuratively on a small island of his own.” ![]() “It is easy to forget that when Kári founded deCODE Genetics, these concepts were considered quite radical and unlikely to succeed,” said Mark Daly, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Broad Institute's Program in Medical and Population Genetics. ![]() This methodology, once questioned, has now been embraced as the dominant research paradigm at major institutions around the world. DeCODE also developed the sophisticated computational methods needed to mine all this information in order to identify numerous and meaningful associations. DeCODE’s success has been based on gathering comprehensive data on genealogy and population structure, along with genotypes, whole genome sequences, and phenotypic information gathered from health records and other sources. Moreover, deCODE’s impact goes beyond specific discoveries to include a profound influence on the way population genetics is done around the world. The list of discoveries includes genes strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, various cancers, heart disease, and many other ailments. Under Kári’s leadership, scientists at deCODE have identified numerous rare and common genetic variants that influence disease risk. “He’s a visionary leader who has built a gene-discovery engine that is a great benefit for Amgen and the entire biomedical research establishment. “Human genetics has the power to transform our understanding of disease, and no one has done more to advance this field in the past two decades than Kári Stefánsson,” said David Reese, Amgen’s executive vice president for R&D. His work has deepened our insights into the nature of genetic diversity, how that diversity is generated and passed on, and how genetic variation affects phenotypes-the physical characteristics and other traits that help to define us as human beings. Through his leadership of deCODE, he has steadily expanded our understanding of the ways in which diversity in the sequence of DNA letters in the genome account for human diversity, including susceptibility to disease. Kári is widely recognized as one of the most original and influential scientists in the field of human genetics. Election to the academy is one of the highest honors in the field of science and a recognition reserved for individuals whose careers are distinguished by original and continuing achievements in their areas of research. Kári Stefánsson, the founder and CEO of deCODE Genetics, now a subsidiary of Amgen, has been elected to the National Academy of Science (NAS). While vowel sounds such as ah or ee are clearly influenced by culture and context, the scientists found that such measures contain a heritable component, which likely has to do with the shape of the vocal tract and its effect on vowel sounds.Clinical Trial Diversity and RepresentationĬlinical Trial Transparency, Data Sharing and Disclosure PracticesĪdverse Event and Product Complaint ReportingĮnvironmental, Social & Governance Report 2022Įnvironment, Social and Governance StrategyĬommunity Investment and Amgen Foundation In addition to voice pitch, the study investigated the genetics of vowel acoustics. The same sequence variants are also linked to higher pulse pressure, a cardiovascular risk factor, highlighting links between voice pitch and health-related traits. The scientists found that ABCC9 variants associate with higher voice pitch in both men and women. In the first study of its kind, the scientists combined speech recordings from almost 13,000 Icelanders with data, in the sequence of the genome, to search for common variants in ABCC9 that are associated with a higher-pitched voice. Speaking is one of the most characteristic human behaviors, and yet the genetic underpinnings of voice and speech are largely unknown. In a paper published today in Science Advances, an international team led by deCODE genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen, reveals the discovery of sequence variants in the gene ABCC9 that influence the pitch of voices. Kari Stefansson senior author and CEO of deCODE genetics and Rosa S. A study from deCODE genetics reveals the first genetic locus for voice pitch.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |