Quantitative genetics Free access

Vol. 456, No. 7223 (11 December 2008)

Produced with support from Monsanto

Recent revolutions in genomic technologies have led to a renewed interest in quantitative genetics. One of the main areas of study is the genetic basis of complex traits, which proved difficult to investigate until the advent of genome-wide association (GWA) studies. Findings from a wide variety of organisms — from plants to mice to humans — are now markedly improving our understanding of how genotype contributes to phenotype.

Neuropsychiatric disease Free access

Vol. 455, No. 7215 (16 October 2008)

Produced with an educational grant provided by Eli Lilly & Company

Neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, depression and autism, are a huge burden on society, impairing the health of those affected, as well as their ability to learn and to work. After half a century of concerted effort, researchers are now making progress towards defining the biological basis of these diseases. Technological advances in the areas of genomics and large-scale studies, as well as the development of new animal models, are improving our understanding of these diseases and are offering the prospect of fundamentally different options for treatment.

Neglected diseases

Vol. 449, No. 7159 (12 September 2007)

Produced with support from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Foundation for the NIH, TDR, Burroughs Wellcome Fund and MRC for Global Health

Tropical diseases affect more than one billion people, yet there are few effective treatments. And despite much research activity, scientific innovations with therapeutic potential are not making it out of the laboratory. The articles in this Outlook examine what can be done to stimulate the development of effective medicines and deliver them to the people who need them most.

India

Vol. 436, No. 7050 (28 July 2005)

Produced with support from Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Metahelix, Avesthagen and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

India is changing: children are being immunized with affordable vaccines produced by India's own biotechnology industry and exported to poorer countries. In this Outlook, Nature examines the problems, like disease, poverty, and bureaucracy, and the opportunities that could make India a world player on the scientific and technological stage.

Year of planet Earth

Supported by the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) and the International Union of Geological Sciences

To celebrate the International Year of Planet Earth, this special supplement explores recent developments and future directions in the Earth sciences. With climate change to the fore, Earth scientists have much to offer society, and these articles explore both our understanding of the planet and how this knowledge can be used to benefit the people who live on it.

Cancer Genomics

Supported by GlaxoSmithKline Oncology

Cancer is driven by multiple genetic and epigenetic changes. In recent years, advanced high-throughput technologies have allowed researchers to survey large numbers of cancer genomes, providing an overview of the landscape of somatic mutations and copy-number alterations in human cancers. It has emerged that human tumours are more heterogeneous and carry alterations in more genes than previously thought. In addition, large-scale association studies have uncovered variations that determine the genetic susceptibility to various types of cancer. This collection highlights some of the recent studies that are shedding light on the mechanisms by which cancer genes function and are informing therapeutic choices.

Cell imaging

Vol. 456, No. 7223 pp825-830 (11 December 2008)

Advances in imaging are allowing researchers to gain better insights into the function of tissues, cells, and even individual molecules. Nathan Blow examines the latest technologies lighting the way.

Metabolomics

Vol. 455, No. 7213 pp795-702 (2 October 2008)

Until now, metabolomics researchers have had to adapt technology developed mainly for proteomics. But there are now solutions designed with them in mind. Nathan Blow reports.