Machine learning analysis of gene regulation reveals new dimension of biological variability

AI Summary

Researchers used machine learning to study how gene regulation differs between the two copies of genes inherited from each parent. The work highlights how disrupted regulation may contribute to health risks including heart disease and cancer.

Changes in our genes affect health risks from heart disease to cancer, but how those genes are turned on and off is just as crucial to health. What's more, almost all genes occur as two copies—one from each parent—that aren't necessarily turned on and off in sync. When that differential gene regulation goes awry, it can cause serious health problems.