genetics

A new reference human genome could reflect our species’ true diversity

by

The current reference human genome is based on a handful of people but the new Pangenome project will incorporate DNA from hundreds of people all around the world Humans 16 March 2022 By Michael Marshall DNA sequence data Shutterstock / Gio.tto The human genome is being sequenced again – but better. A new project to … Read more

Lake Hillier: Pink Australian lake gets its colour from red and purple microbes

by

DNA sequencing has revealed that a bright pink lake on an island off Western Australia gets its colour from a mix of salt-loving bacteria and algae Earth 10 March 2022 By Alice Klein Aerial view of Lake Hillier, Australia Tourism Western Australia The unusual bubblegum pink colour of a remote lake in Western Australia has … Read more

Cloning | New Scientist

by

Cloning is the process of creating organisms that are genetically identical. These organisms are identical twins and are to some extent copies of each other. Many organisms can clone themselves, including most plants and some animals. Reproducing this way avoids the need to find a sexual partner and allows a new generation to be produced … Read more

Some Children Die Without Explanation. Genetics Is Finally Giving Us Answers

by

The sudden and unexpected death of a child is a tragedy made all the worse when there’s absolutely no explanation. Each year in the United States, hundreds of children die for undetermined reasons, usually in their sleep or while resting. Due to the way deaths are investigated and certified, it’s hard to say how often this … Read more

From Great Dane to Tiny Terrier, A Mutation Creates Enormous Variation in Dog Sizes

by

From chihuahuas to great Danes, dogs differ more in size than any other mammal species on the planet. A mutation behind such variation has been traced to an unexpected source: ancient wolves. The mutation lies near a gene called IGF1, which researchers flagged 15 years ago as having a major role in the size variation of … Read more

Plant genomics: Huge database includes over 9000 species of flowering plants

by

Public library of DNA sequences will allow botanists to track the complex evolutionary history of flowering plants in unprecedented detail Life 1 February 2022 By Chen Ly Zinnia flowers in a meadow Shutterstock / Pheobus More than 9000 species of plants have had sections of their genomes sequenced as part of the Plant and Fungal … Read more

Genetics: Fungi that live on eucalyptus roots can control trees’ gene activity

by

Eucalyptus trees rely on root fungi to source nutrients and water – but the fungi actually control the genetic development of the tree roots by releasing tiny chunks of RNA Life 10 January 2022 By Michael Le Page Pisolithus microcarpus mycorrhizal root tips on Eucalyptus grandis Jonathan Plett A root fungus that helps eucalyptus trees … Read more

Fish farms: Escaped salmon have damaging effect on wild gene pool

by

The evolutionary fitness of Atlantic salmon is being damaged by genetic contamination as wild fish breed with escapees from fish farms Life 22 December 2021 By Adam Vaughan A salmon farm in Norway Marius Dobilas/Shutterstock When wild Atlantic salmon breed with escaped farmed salmon, their descendants grow faster and mature at a younger age, undermining … Read more

Western honeybees: World’s most common bee originated 7 million years ago in Asia

by

A genetic analysis suggests the world’s most common species of honeybee, the western honeybee, first appeared in western Asia about 7 million years ago and then spread into Africa and Europe Life 3 December 2021 By Carissa Wong Honey bee workers (Apis mellifera) Kim Taylor / naturepl.com Genomic analysis has revealed that the western honeybee … Read more