Global Scans · Genetics · Weekly Summary

• [New] At the University of Minnesota, machine learning models blend genomics, imaging, and longitudinal records to predict who will benefit from specific therapies and who will not. Binary Verse AI
• [New] Gene drive technology is rapidly advancing, offering powerful new tools with the potential to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges in public health and environmental conservation. Crop Biotech Update
• [New] NIH-funded scientists identified genetic variations that put people at risk for several common and complex disorders, including breast cancer, gout, lung cancer, schizophrenia, glioblastoma, and blood cholesterol and lipid levels. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• [New] Three independent research teams supported by NEI found a gene, called complement factor H, that affects a person's risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over age 60. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• [New] The Cure Sickle Cell Initiative will take advantage of the latest genetic discoveries and technological advances to move the most promising genetic-based curative therapies safely into clinical trials within five to 10 years. / USA National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• [New] NIH issued a statement saying that it will not fund any use of gene-editing technologies in human embryos. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• [New] The global expansion of genetic testing could lead to a new era of personalized medicine, with preventive and therapeutic approaches tailored to individuals' unique genetic profiles, ushering in the age of precision medicine. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Carrier genetic testing identifies individuals carrying a gene for a disease that could be passed on to their children. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Within the next decade, gene therapy could offer effective treatments for more patients with genetic diseases. CNA
• [New] A top United States regulator plans to unveil a faster approach to approving custom gene-editing treatments, a move designed to unleash a wave of industry investment that will yield cures for patients with rare diseases. financialpost
• [New] A top US regulator plans to unveil a faster approach to approving custom gene-editing treatments, a move designed to unleash a wave of industry investment that will yield cures for patients with rare diseases. Bloomberg
• [New] An early goal of the BRAIN Initiative, the BICCN will generate knowledge that is prerequisite to solving the mysteries of brain disorders, such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and autism spectrum disorder. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• [New] China will suspend the restrictions on exporting rare earth minerals that it announced in October, and it will resume issuing general licenses valid for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite for the benefit of U.S. end users and their suppliers around the world. TechCrunch
• [New] China will issue general licenses valid for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite for the benefit of U.S. end users and their suppliers around the world. Politico
• [New] Recent U.S. biosecurity policy has shifted from organism-level controls to sequence-level governance of synthetic nucleic acids in response to de novo genome synthesis risks, artificial intelligence assisted design, and globalized DNA/RNA manufacturing. Global Biodefense
• [New] Elon Musk says within the next 5-6 years, there will be no conventional mobile phones, no apps or operating systems, and most of the content people consume will be generated by AI. Through my Asian lens
• Washington could still increase collaborations and scholarships beyond the ICG and CGSIC forums, if only to build deeper networks and generate localized knowledge between U.S. and Middle East scientists. The Washington Institute
• Democratic attorneys general and governors plan to file a lawsuit today against the Trump administration over its decision not to use emergency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance Program during the government shutdown. Just Security
• Long-term developments will likely see a greater emphasis on edge computing and distributed AI, where data processing and storage occur closer to the source of data generation, reducing reliance on centralized, potentially vulnerable global data centers. FinancialContent
• Looking beyond 2025, DeepSeek envisions the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) - a system capable of reasoning, learning, and adapting autonomously across diverse domains. DeepSeek AI
• One of the most anticipated elements of the DeepSeek Roadmap 2025 is the introduction of next-generation AI models that will push the boundaries of generative intelligence. DeepSeek AI
• Despite the extraordinary progress, a key factor preventing an immediate 2026-2029 singularity is the remaining challenge of achieving true Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which requires fundamental architectural breakthroughs beyond current deep learning paradigms. Educational Technology and Change Journal
• General intelligence is within reach, but the roadblocks of regulation, resource constraints, and the complexity of human-like intelligence make a near-term arrival in 2026 or 2029 ambitious. Educational Technology and Change Journal

Last updated: 09 November 2025