biostudies-literatureGuo SNational One Thousand Foreign Experts PlanNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaMax Planck SocietyWellcome Investigator AwardWellcome Trust286https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8059241biostudies-literatureUnknown22(1)<h4>Background</h4>Analysis of lymphocyte cell lines revealed substantial differences in the expression of mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) among human populations. The extent of such population-associated differences in actual human tissues remains largely unexplored. The placenta is one of the few solid human tissues that can be collected in substantial numbers in a controlled manner, enabling quantitative analysis of transient biomolecules such as RNA transcripts. Here, we analyzed microRNA (miRNA) expression in human placental samples derived from 36 individuals representing four genetically distinct human populations: African Americans, European Americans, South Asians, and East Asians. All samples were collected at the same hospital following a unified protocol, thus minimizing potential biBMC genomicsVariation of microRNA expression in the human placenta driven by population identity and sex of the newborn.PMC8059241202802/Z/16/ZWQ2012310007891331203Huang SMoreno CSJiang XHu HHughes DAStoneking MGuo SHan DFairbrother GLKhaitovich PfalseVariation of microRNA expression in the human placenta driven by population identity and sex of the newborn.<h4>Background</h4>Analysis of lymphocyte cell lines revealed substantial differences in the expression of mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) among human populations. The extent of such population-associated differences in actual human tissues remains largely unexplored. The placenta is one of the few solid human tissues that can be collected in substantial numbers in a controlled manner, enabling quantitative analysis of transient biomolecules such as RNA transcripts. Here, we analyzed microRNA (miRNA) expression in human placental samples derived from 36 individuals representing four genetically distinct human populations: African Americans, European Americans, South Asians, and East Asians. All samples were collected at the same hospital following a unified protocol, thus minimizing potential bi2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Apr2026-04-07T21:08:49.339Z2022-02-09T16:05:42.507ZS-EPMC80592413387905110.1186/s12864-021-07542-0