Robert Rowlands

Scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz Genomics Institute and the Telomere-to-Telomere Consortium have produced the first complete genome of the common marmoset. The high-quality reference genome corrects gaps and inaccuracies in the 2014 version and enables researchers to study genetic variation more precisely. Analysis of 230 marmosets identified variants in genes associated with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and immune function, strengthening the species' value as a model for neurodegenerative research. The work also revealed previously unresolved patterns involving ribosomal DNA, centromeres and sex differences, while demonstrating that increasingly automated complete-genome sequencing could support more affordable personalised genomics.