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Scarlet macaw DNA points to ancient breeding operation in Southwest

Researchers found that scarlet macaws sequenced from Chaco Canyon and Mimbres areas in New Mexico shared the same haplogroup, indicating a single breeding population. This contradicts previous theories that ancestral Puebloan people brought birds back from Mexico, as transporting adolescent birds would be logistically difficult.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 13, 2018

Deep data dive helps predict cerebral palsy

A recent study published in BMC Bioinformatics has found that DNA methylation patterns in circulating blood cells can help identify children with spastic cerebral palsy. The researchers used next-generation sequencing data to analyze these patterns and identified distinct markers that distinguish children with CP from those without it.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalBMC Bioinformatics·DateJun 21, 2018

International consortium wants to sequence the DNA of 1.5 million species

The Earth BioGenome Project aims to sequence genomes of every eukaryotic species on Earth, filling the huge knowledge gap in biodiversity research. With a cost estimate of approximately US$4.7 billion, the project will lay the scientific foundation for a new bioeconomy and bring innovative solutions to global problems.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 17, 2018

New tool predicts deadly form of rare cancer

A new tool uses high-throughput DNA sequencing to accurately predict which early-stage Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) patients are at risk of developing an aggressive form of the disease. The tool, which analyzes specific genes, has shown promise in improving treatment outcomes for these patients.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 9, 2018

Untangling DNA knots

MIT researchers have discovered the factors that determine whether a DNA knot moves along the strand or jams in place. By manipulating the electric field strength, they can induce knots to move towards one end of the molecule, potentially enabling more accurate genome sequencing and knot removal methods.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 3, 2018

Earth BioGenome Project aims to sequence DNA from all complex life on Earth

The project seeks to understand the evolution and organization of life by sequencing and functionally annotating the genomes of 1.5 million eukaryotic species, including plants, animals, fungi, and single-cell organisms. This initiative aims to reveal unknown species and provide a freely available resource for scientific discovery.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 23, 2018

Which sequences make DNA unwrap and breathe?

Researchers develop a model explaining how DNA sequences affect nucleosome accessibility for gene expression, bridging the gap between mechanical and chemical information in DNA molecules. The study reveals specific base pair sequences that enable packaged DNA to unwind and 'breathe', allowing genes to be read.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateDec 5, 2017

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities exposed with new DNA sequencing approach

Researchers have developed a new method to detect and identify the many species involved in these ecologically vital communities, revealing one of the highest levels of species richness recorded to date. The study found that the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities were dominated by a small number of very common fungi.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalApplications in Plant Sciences·DateSep 29, 2017

How molecular scissors cut in the right place

Researchers at Uppsala University discovered how CRISPR-Cas9 finds its target sequence in the genome, taking around six hours to search a bacterium's four million base pairs. To improve speed and reliability, they found that sacrificing Cas9's flexibility can lead to faster, but still versatile genetic scissors.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScience·DateSep 28, 2017

Engineer develops key mathematical formula for driving quantum experiments

Washington University engineer Jr-Shin Li has developed a mathematical formula to design broadband pulse sequences, leading to enhanced signal sensitivity in various quantum experiments. The formula, published in Nature Communications, is the first to use analytical methods, resolving challenges associated with numerical optimization.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 5, 2017

Into the wild for plant genetics

Researchers at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew detail for the first time the opportunities for plant sciences with portable real-time DNA sequencing. By sequencing random pieces of the genome in the field, accurate species identification is possible within a few hours of collecting a specimen.

SourceRoyal Botanic Gardens Kew·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 21, 2017

DNA from Viking cod bones suggests 1,000-year history of European fish trade

A new study suggests a European stockfish trade existed for 1,000 years, with cod bones from Haithabu providing evidence of fish caught in northern Norway being consumed on mainland Europe. The findings support the idea that traded fish played a significant role in knitting the European continent together economically.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 7, 2017

The undertaker's census

Researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute used carrion flies to survey tropical forest mammals, detecting 20 species that were not found by traditional methods. The method was more effective than camera traps and transect counts, but had limitations, such as failing to detect certain species that produce small droppings.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalMolecular Ecology Resources·DateJul 31, 2017

Next Generation TimeTree: An expanded history of life on Earth at your fingertips

The next generation TimeTree web combines molecular sequencing data with geological timelines and environmental information. Users can now explore the history of life on Earth in detail, tracing species evolution through time and comparing divergence times between species.

Nanotechnology and nanopore sequencing

Nanopore sequencing is a modern and promising technique that benefits from the potential advantages of label-free sequencing and long reads. This method analyzes DNA directly taken from cells, enhancing sequencing accuracy. Recent advances in solid-state nanopore sequencing are investigated in a review published in Recent Patents on Na...

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalRecent Patents on Nanotechnology·DateFeb 22, 2017