Researchers have created the most comprehensive genomic map of bone health, identifying hundreds of previously unknown genes involved in bone formation and loss. By combining single-cell RNA sequencing with genetic data from nearly 500,000 people, the team discovered 34 distinct bone cell types and revealed that blood vessel cells play a much larger role in bone repair than previously recognized. The findings could transform treatment for conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and brittle bone disease by helping scientists develop therapies that rebuild lost bone rather than simply slowing its breakdown. The open-access resource may also advance research into cancers that spread to bone.
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