Futurity.org » genomics

Blood parasite’s genetic code cracked

David Scott-Melbourne — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:28:19 +0000

U. MELBOURNE (AUS) — Scientists have sequenced the genome of a parasite responsible for one of the most socioeconomically devastating diseases in the world.

An international research team led by Neil Young and Robin Gasser from the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Veterinary Science sequenced the nuclear genome of Schistosoma haematobium from a single pair of tiny worms.

RiceNet: Better grain, new biofuel crops

Pat Bailey-UC Davis — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:16:16 +0000

UC DAVIS (US) — The first genome-scale model for predicting gene function in rice is expected to speed up development of new crops for biofuels—and improve the quality of one of the world’s most important food staples.

“With RiceNet, instead of working on one gene at a time based on data from a single experimental set, we can predict the function of entire networks of genes, as well as entire genetic pathways that regulate a particular biological process,” says Pamela Ronald, professor of plant pathology at University of California, Davis and director of the grass genetics program within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute.

New DNA letter may have distinct function

Holly Korschun-Emory — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:46:52 +0000

EMORY (US) — Scientists have mapped the patterns formed by a sixth nucleotide—a new DNA letter discovered in 2009—in the brains of mice, observing how its pattern of distribution changes during development and aging.

The patterns, stable or dynamic depending on the gene, suggest that 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) has its own distinct functions, which still need to be fully brought to light.

Junk DNA: Why humans, chimps are different?

Jason Maderer-Georgia Tech — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:05:56 +0000

GEORGIA TECH (US) — While the DNA sequence of genes between humans and chimpanzees is nearly identical, a new study finds the insertion and deletion of large pieces of DNA near genes are highly variable.

This may account for major differences between the two species, according to work by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Worm genome: ‘Major step’ to stop killer

Nerissa Hannink-Melbourne — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:15:28 +0000

U. MELBOURNE (AUS) — Scientists have identified the genetic blueprint of the giant intestinal roundworm, Ascaris suum, revealing potential targets to control a devastating parasitic disease.

The disease, known as ascariasis, affects more than one billion people in China, South East Asia, South America, and parts of Africa—killing thousands of people annually and causing chronic effects in young children.

Diverse mollusks share family tree

Richard Lewis-Brown — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:46:21 +0000

BROWN (US) — Scientists have put together the most comprehensive mollusk evolutionary tree ever compiled, including some organisms thought until recently to be extinct for millions of years.

The analysis surprisingly shows there was a single origin for shelled mollusks and also places two enigmatic groups, cephalopods and monoplacophorans, as sister clades.

‘Caste’ genes evolve quickly in social bugs

Abby Vogel Robinson-Georgia Tech — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:37:14 +0000

GEORGIA TECH (US) — Genes responsible for different sexes, life stages, and castes in fire ants, honeybees, and other social insects evolve faster than others not involved in those functions, according to new research.

All species of life develop in different ways by varying the genes they express, ultimately becoming different shapes, sizes, colors, and sexes—a plasticity that permits organisms to operate successfully in their environments.

‘Invasion’ moved mammals from egg to womb

Bill Hathaway-Yale — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:04:34 +0000

YALE (US) — More than 100 million years ago, genetic parasites invaded the mammalian genome, changing the uterus in the ancestors of humans and other mammals from egg producers to a home for developing young.

A new study published online in the journal Nature Genetics describes the molecular changes that allowed mammals to carry their developing young within the safety of the womb rather than laying them in nests or carrying them around in pouches.

DNA variants linked to schizophrenia, bipolar

Stephen Rouse-Cardiff — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:33:49 +0000

CARDIFF U. (UK) — Researchers have found new molecular evidence that 11 genetic regions have strong links to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, including six regions not previously observed.

The researchers also found that many of these DNA variations contribute to both diseases.

Computers uncover how plants survive

Tom Oswald-Michigan State — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:11:21 +0000

MICHIGAN STATE (US) — Plant and computer scientists have teamed up to figure out how certain genes in a plant turn on and off to deal with environmental extremes.

Their work focused on the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant with more than 25,000 genes. Of those, about 3,000 to 10,000 are used to cope with extremes under just one particular stress.