This study tracks maternal immune gene expression and genetic regulation throughout pregnancy, revealing dynamic changes and genetic interactions linked to pregnancy complications.

medRxiv · Sep 25, 2026 · PreprintGenetic & Genomic Medicine

The human placenta exhibits a unique transcriptomic void

Sungsam Gong, Francesca Gaccioli, Irving L.M.H. Aye, Giulia Avellino, Emma Cook, Andrew R. J. Lawson, Luke M. R. Harvey, Gordon C. S. Smith, David S. Jones

The paper identifies 762 transcripts uniquely depleted in the placenta compared to 46 other human organs, highlighting mitochondrial and polyamine metabolism enrichment.

Cell Reports · Jul 1, 2023Peer-reviewedGenomics

Somatic mutations reveal widespread mosaicism and mutagenesis in human placentas

Tim H. H. Coorens, Thomas R. W. Oliver, Rashesh Sanghvi, Ulla Sovio, Emma Cook, Roser Vento‐Tormo, Muzlifah A. Haniffa, Matthew D. Young, Raheleh Rahbari, Neil James Sebire, Peter J. Campbell, David S. Jones, Gordon C. S. Smith, Sam Behjati

This study uses whole genome sequencing of placental biopsies to show that human placentas exhibit clonal expansions, copy number changes, and developmental bottlenecks similar to childhood cancer.

bioRxiv · Jan 26, 2021 · PreprintGenomics