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Only a decade ago, the first human genome was sequenced — a task that took many years and US$3 billion. Today, individual human genomes can be sequenced rapidly and inexpensively.
Two groups of researchers used rapid gene sequencing to gain new insights into the unusually aggressive course of pancreatic cancer. The groups sequenced nearly all 20,000 genes in metastatic pancreatic cancer specimens from 20 people. They found many chromosomal rearrangements: One particularly characteristic type (chromosomal inversion) was found in nearly all specimens. The changes suggest that telomeres are dysfunctional and that control of the cell cycle has been lost. More interestingly, the mutations suggest that metastatic pancreatic tumors are initiated 15…