In a new study, researchers have developed a machete technique that can slice into the cancer genome and study copy number alterations. This approach could potentially be used to identify new targets for cancer therapies.
The cancer genome is notoriously difficult to study due to its massive size and complexity. Previous techniques for studying the cancer genome have been unable to provide a comprehensive view of copy number alterations, which are changes in the number of copies of a gene or DNA sequence.
The new machete technique, developed by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge, uses a combination of long-read sequencing and a computational approach called graph-based genome assembly. This allows for the accurate reconstruction of the cancer genome, providing a unprecedented view of copy number alterations.
Using this technique, the researchers were able to identify over 6,000 copy number alterations in 34 different cancer types. This includes many cancer-causing genes that were previously unknown.
This study provides a powerful new tool for cancer research, and could potentially be used to develop new targeted therapies for cancer. The machete technique could also be applied to other difficult-to-study genomes, such as the human genome.
CancerCopy
A team of researchers has developed a new technique that can be used to slice into the cancer genome and study copy number alterations. The technique, known as CancerCopy, is based on a method called whole genome sequencing.
The team used CancerCopy to study the genomes of two types of cancer, ovarian and breast. They found that CancerCopy could identify copy number alterations that were not detected by other methods.
The team believes that CancerCopy could be used to study other types of cancer, and that it could help to improve our understanding of the disease.
