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Family trees have vast applications in fields as diverse as genetics, anthropology, and economics. However, the collection of extended family trees is tedious and usually relies on resources with limited geographical scope and complex data usage restrictions. We collected 86 million profiles from publicly available online data shared by genealogy enthusiasts. After extensive cleaning and validation, we obtained population-scale family trees, including a single pedigree of 13 million individuals. We leveraged the data to partition the genetic architecture of human longevity and to provide insights into the geographical dispersion of families. We also report a simple digital procedure to overlay other data sets with our resource.

The genomic cis-regulatory systems controlling regulatory gene expression usually include multiple modules. The regulatory output of such systems at any given time depends on which module is directing the function of the basal transcription apparatus, and ultimately on the transcription factor inputs into that module. Here we examine regulation of the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus tbrain gene, a required activator of the skeletogenic specification state in the lineage descendant from the embryo micromeres. Alternate cis-regulatory modules were found to convey skeletogenic expression in reporter constructs. To determine their relative developmental functions in context, we made use of recombineered BAC constructs containing a GFP reporter and of derivatives from which specific modules had been deleted. The outputs of the various constructs were observed spatially by GFP fluorescence and quantitatively over time by QPCR. In the context of the complete genomic locus, early skeletogenic expression is controlled by an intron enhancer plus a proximal region containing a HesC site as predicted from network analysis. From ingression onward, however, a dedicated distal module utilizing positive Ets1/2 inputs contributes to definitive expression in the skeletogenic mesenchyme. This module also mediates a newly discovered negative Erg input which excludes non-skeletogenic mesodermal expression., California Institute of Technology (SURF Program), California Institute of Technology (Camilla Chandler Frost Fellowship), United States. Dept. of Defense (National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship), National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH grant HD037105), National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant GM075089)

Background: Women currently represent 47 percent of the workforce, and these rates have been steadily climbing since the 1970s. The presence of gender discrimination in the workforce has been documented and measured, although not extensively, in the form of qualitative and quantitative studies, court cases, and legislation passed. There has been even less effort focused on its reciprocal, the fostering of gender equity in the workplace. This study examines staff perceptions of gender equity in the workplace, both in the office setting and in the overseas programmatic efforts of the organization. Methods: The organization in the case study, Lutheran World Relief, is a small-scale faith-based international development organization, and the study population is its domestically-based staff located at its headquarters office. This study utilizes a cross-sectional quantitative methods approach by conducting an anonymous survey. Results/Summary: The survey had a 53% staff response rate. This study showed that the organization's staff have overall positive perceptions of its gender equitable workplace culture as well as its programmatic efforts overseas. Main areas of improvement include financial resources allocated for gender integration and improving technical capacity of staff. The study results will guide the organizations' efforts to improve its office culture and programmatic efforts, and this organization sets a strong example of the importance of organization-wide reflection around and prioritizing of gender equity.