A Maltese researcher recently presented research at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) annual meeting held in Boston, US. The meeting is the largest human genetics meeting and exposition in the world and this year’s meeting brought together 7,000 geneticists from all over the world.
Alexia Cardona, a Ph.D. student at the University of Cambridge who hails from Qormi, took part in a platform presentation at the meeting where she presented that she and her colleagues conducted on genetic adaptations experienced by indigenous Siberian populations. The research is fruit of a collaborative effort between several researchers from world leading institutions.
By scanning genomes of different populations, the team of researchers identified the different genetic structures and selection signals experienced by the different populations.
The research provided an insight into which genes have evolved that are beneficial for survival in the environment of the respective populations.
The research has been featured by various scientific media including Science and Science News.
Cardona was also a finalist of the ASHG/Charles J. Epstein Trainee Awards for Excellence in Human Genetics Research. Over 600 pre- and post-doctoral researchers applied for the award.