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British duo Professor Shankar Balasubramanian and Professor David Klenerman have been awarded the Millennium Technology Prize for their development of revolutionary DNA sequencing techniques.

David Klenerman and Shankar Balasubramanian talk about their discovery of a revolutionary DNA sequencing technology – and the global impact that continues to surprise them.

Mitochondria -  the ‘batteries’ that power our cells – play an unexpected role in common diseases such as type 2 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, concludes a study of over 350,000 people conducted by the ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Cambridge.

CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing can lead to unintended mutations at the targeted section of DNA in early human embryos, researchers have revealed. This highlights the need for further research into the effects of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, especially when used to edit human DNA in laboratory research.

Professor Sharon Peacock explains the story behind the UK's world-leading SARS-CoV-2 genomics capability.

Genomic surveillance – using information about genetic differences between virus samples – can help identify how SARS-CoV-2 spreads in care home settings, whose residents are at particular risk, according to new research published today.

̽»¨Ö±²¥UK is a world leader in sequencing SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Of all the coronavirus genomes that have been sequenced in the world, nearly half have been sequenced by COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (Cog-UK). ̽»¨Ö±²¥consortium began life on 4 March 2020 when Sharon Peacock, a professor of public health and microbiology at the ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Cambridge, emailed a handful of scientists and asked for their help.

Since the start of the academic year in October 2020, the ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Cambridge has been offering regular SARS-CoV-2 tests to all students living in its Colleges, even if they show no symptoms.

̽»¨Ö±²¥COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium has been backed by the Department for Health and Social Care Testing Innovation Fund to expand whole genome sequencing of positive SARS-CoV-2 virus samples to map how COVID-19 spreads and evolves. ̽»¨Ö±²¥Â£12.2M funding will facilitate the genome sequencing capacity needed to meet the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases expected in the UK this winter.

Scientists have used genome sequencing to reveal the extent to which a drug-resistant gastrointestinal bacterium can spread within a hospital, highlighting the challenge hospitals face in controlling infections.