Deletion of any single gene provokes mutations elsewhere in the genome

Johns Hopkins researchers report that the deletion of any single gene in yeast cells puts pressure on the organism’s genome to compensate, leading to a mutation in another gene. Their discovery, which is likely applicable to human genetics because of the way DNA is conserved across species, could have significant consequences for the way genetic analysis is done in cancer and other areas of research, they say. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Teng X, et al. Genome-wide Consequences of Deleting Any Single Gene. Mol Cell. 2013 Nov 6. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24211263