Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 02 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00927-xIn this Tools of the Trade article, Moritz Schaefer introduces CellWhisperer, a multimodal machine learning model and software tool for the chat-based interrogation of single-cell RNA sequencing datasets.

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 02 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00920-4Causal and mechanistic modelling strategies, which aim to infer cause–effect relationships, provide insights into cellular responses to perturbations. The authors review computational approaches that harness machine learning and single-cell data to advance our understanding of cellular heterogeneity and causal mechanisms in biological systems.

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 15 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00928-wAlternative 3′-end processing of nascent RNA, known as alternative polyadenylation (APA), increases transcript diversity and augments post-transcriptional modulation of gene expression. APA profiles are highly dynamic in response to cell growth, differentiation and extracellular cues, and dysregulated APA is a hallmark of human diseases.

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 15 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-026-00930-wPopulation epigenetics leverages methylation profile scores (MPSs) to aggregate information across multiple DNA methylation sites. In this Comment, the authors advocate for MPSs to be trained in early-life contexts, anchored in longitudinal developmental data and evaluated using harmonized standards.

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 13 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00916-0CRISPR-based genome editing therapeutics are entering the clinic, but in vitro and in vivo tools are needed to assess their safety and efficacy. The authors review complementary technologies to monitor the biological effects of genome editing across scales, including the direct measurement of editing outcomes in DNA, human microphysiological systems and non-invasive in vivo imaging.

Genomic approaches have transformed how we study microorganisms, which shape nearly every aspect of life on Earth.

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 09 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00926-yIn this Tools of the Trade article, Yubao Cheng discusses the development of RAEFISH (reverse-padlock amplicon-encoding fluorescence in situ hybridization), a method that enables spatial transcriptomics with both single-molecule spatial resolution and genome-wide coverage.

A secure platform for developing and sharing reproducible methods.

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 15 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-026-00930-wPopulation epigenetics leverages methylation profile scores (MPSs) to aggregate information across multiple DNA methylation sites. In this Comment, the authors advocate for MPSs to be trained in early-life contexts, anchored in longitudinal developmental data and evaluated using harmonized standards.

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 15 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00928-wAlternative 3′-end processing of nascent RNA, known as alternative polyadenylation (APA), increases transcript diversity and augments post-transcriptional modulation of gene expression. APA profiles are highly dynamic in response to cell growth, differentiation and extracellular cues, and dysregulated APA is a hallmark of human diseases.

Proteoforms are the diverse protein molecules produced from a single gene whose primary sequence and composition can be diversified by genetic, transcriptomic, translational and post-translational var...

Love Methods Week 2026 will take place January 19-23, 2026 and is organized by University of Coimbra and the QUEST center. Online workshops focused on open and reproducible meth...

Nature Reviews Genetics - Advances in long-read sequencing are driving the implementation of these technologies for transcriptome profiling. The authors provide a comprehensive guide to long-read...

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 13 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00916-0CRISPR-based genome editing therapeutics are entering the clinic, but in vitro and in vivo tools are needed to assess their safety and efficacy. The authors review complementary technologies to monitor the biological effects of genome editing across scales, including the direct measurement of editing outcomes in DNA, human microphysiological systems and non-invasive in vivo imaging.

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 06 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00923-1The complex and repetitive nature of centromeres has historically posed challenges to their genomic assembly and functional understanding, which are now being overcome with long-read sequencing. This Review discusses recent genomic and epigenomic insights into human centromere biology that have positioned the field for future studies of centromere structure in chromosome biology and human disease.

Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 06 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00921-3Ancestral and geographic diversity in genomic resources can improve our understanding of complex disease genetics. The authors review how ancestrally diverse biobanks worldwide are reshaping genetic discovery, empowering the identification of novel variants and disease associations, with important biological implications.