Research on how genomes change over time. Covers hidden DNA structure, chromosome bursts in cancer, plant pangenomes, and microbial adaptation.
The study of 17 mouse strains reveals a range of genetic variation, with over 700 biological traits affected by mutations. The findings advance understanding of human disease and evolution, providing a critical resource for researchers.
Researchers engineered a computer-designed yeast chromosome with an inducible evolution system, allowing them to rapidly introduce genetic changes. This allows for the custom design of organisms that can grow better in adverse environments or produce more ethanol.
A new study reveals that Przewalski's horse, an endangered species, has a much more ancient origin than previously thought, with a common ancestor dating back 160,000 years. The research also suggests that the present-day population of 2,000 individuals has a highly diverse gene pool.
The green anole lizard's genome has been fully sequenced, offering clues about vertebrate evolution and the origins of human genes. The study also provides insights into how lizards adapted to different islands and evolved diverse communities.
Researchers have discovered two gene clusters in plants producing valuable compounds, providing insights into their evolution and function. The clusters, found in dynamic regions of the genome, are maintained as a whole due to evolutionary pressure, enabling coordinated gene expression.
A new genome sequence of Brassica rapa, a key crop for vegetable oils, has been successfully completed. This breakthrough will help breeders develop more efficient varieties of oilseed rape and other important crops, ultimately contributing to global food security.
The genome of mesopolyploid crop Brassica rapa has been sequenced and analyzed, revealing a gene space covering over 98% and identifying 41,174 protein-coding genes. The study provides new insights into the evolutionary history of polyploid genomes and offers opportunities for genetic improvement of Brassica oil and vegetable crops.
The tammar wallaby genome sequence provides valuable information on the evolution of mammalian reproduction, development, and fascinating biological characteristics. Researchers discovered genes responsible for the kangaroo's characteristic hop, excellent sense of smell, and antibiotics in mother's milk to protect newborns from harm.
Researchers identified three periods of evolutionary innovation in gene regulation that increased in frequency during different periods in vertebrate evolution. These innovations affected genes involved in embryonic development, cell-to-cell communication, and signaling pathways.
Researchers discovered that mitochondria share a common ancestral lineage with SAR11, a dominant group of marine bacteria. The study provides evidence for the symbiotic origins of mitochondria and sheds light on the metabolic potential of these abundant microorganisms.
Researchers found that yeast chromosome complement has decreased in all except one event, a whole genome duplication, where chromosomes fused or broke and recombined. This study sheds light on the evolution of chromosome complements in yeast and other organisms.
A team of international researchers led by UC Irvine's Robert Reed has identified a single gene called optix responsible for red wing color patterns in various passion vine butterfly species. This breakthrough discovery sheds light on how mimicry and convergent evolution occur at a genetic level.
A comprehensive whole sequence variation map of rhesus macaque has been published, providing a valuable resource for evolutionary and biomedical research. The study identified 5.5 million SNPs and 125,150 structural variations, including annotated nonsynonymous SNPs related to human disease and drug-target genes.
Researchers from Virginia Tech and the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium successfully sequenced the genome of a diploid potato variety, revealing approximately 39,000 protein coding genes. The study provides insights into the evolution of the potato tuber and its genetic variation.
The Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium completed the genome sequence and analysis of the potato, revealing new insights into its evolutionary history and potential mechanisms for tuber initiation and development. BGI's bioinformatics expertise facilitated the annotation of 39,031 protein-coding genes.
A team of international researchers has successfully sequenced the potato genome, revealing secrets of its tuber and potential for improvement. The study aims to accelerate efforts in improving potato varieties with desirable traits such as quality, yield, drought tolerance, and disease resistance.
A recent study published in the journal Evolution proposes that sex may not promote genetic diversity as previously thought. Instead, its primary function is to maintain a species' genome context and prevent macroevolution, allowing for microevolution to occur.
A recent study on leaf-cutting ants has sequenced their genome, revealing key adaptations behind their unique social behavior and fungus farming lifestyle. The research found that specific genes are involved in mating system adaptations and symbiotic food processing with the fungus.
Susan R. Wessler receives the FASEB 2012 Excellence in Science Award for her pioneering work on plant transposable elements and their impact on gene and genome evolution. Her research has led to significant advancements in understanding the role of transposons in shaping genomes.
Researchers discovered that on average, thirty mutations are transmitted from each parent to their child, revising previous estimations and revolutionizing the timescale used to calculate generations separating humans from other species. This finding has important implications for research tying specific genetic mutations to diseases.
Researchers found that woolly mammoths interbred with the Columbian mammoth, a species 25% larger, due to climate change and geographic overlap. The study provides new insights into the evolutionary history of these ancient creatures.
The spikemoss genome reveals that the transition from mosses to plants with vascular systems didn't involve as many genes as going from a vascular plant without flowers to one with them. The genome also sheds light on lignin, a polymer challenging biofuels researchers, and offers strategic research opportunities.
Researchers propose that a prolonged dry spell and lower atmospheric carbon dioxide levels drove the rise of cacti and other succulents, leading to rapid speciation between 5-10 million years ago. This coincided with species explosions in other plant groups, including C4 grasses, which burst onto the scene during the same time period.
A team of genome researchers has concluded that domesticated rice may have first appeared as far back as approximately 9,000 years ago in the Yangtze Valley of China. The study used large-scale gene re-sequencing to analyze the evolutionary history of domesticated rice.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics reveals that mutations in a single gene, centrosomal NDE1, may have played a key role in shaping the human cerebral cortex. The research found that these genetic variations were responsible for microcephaly, a condition characterized by abnormally small brains.
Researchers have decoded the entire genome of lyre-leaved rock cress, a close relative of the thale cress, revealing that its genome is significantly larger. The study found that considerable elements were lost from the thale cress genome, with hundreds of thousands of small deletions accounting for most of the differences in size.
Rebeiz aims to understand how regulatory switches change to produce evolutionary novelties, such as the horn on a beetle or the eyespots on a butterfly's wings. His research could apply to human genetics, helping to better understand how genetic alterations lead to disease and deformities.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab are advancing systems biology research to improve understanding of cellular networks and their behavior. By integrating experimental and computational technologies, they aim to bridge the gap between correlative analysis and mechanistic insights.
A University of Florida study shows that when two flowering plants are crossed, the new species' genes are reset, allowing for greater genetic variation. This process could lead to better growing conditions for more stable and high-yielding agricultural crops.
A new evolutionary history of primates reveals complex patterns of species divergence and gene sequence evolution. The analysis provides a validated framework for understanding human adaptation and disease, and sheds light on zoonoses and primate conservation.
Biodiversity research highlights the importance of conserving rare and endangered plant species, as well as understanding patterns of species diversity in aquatic and terrestrial systems. New analyses suggest that modern ecosystems are a product of past events, with implications for present environmental conditions and future directions.
Researchers identified 510 genetic regions highly conserved among chimpanzees and other mammals but missing in humans. These deletions are linked to specific anatomical changes unique to the human lineage, including reduced tactile sensitivity and increased brain size.
Researchers studied the genome of Arabidopsis suecica, a hybrid species formed tens of thousands of years ago, to understand how genes are sorted and eliminated. The findings suggest that genes from one parent are preferentially expressed over the other, leading to the deletion of unfavored genes.
Researchers have identified a pattern of DNA sequence called microhomology that plays a key role in the formation of gene fusions in pediatric brain tumors. This discovery sheds light on how these genomic rearrangements form in the early stages of cancer and may have implications for understanding other types of cancers.
Researchers identified 510 missing genetic segments that distinguish humans from chimpanzees and other animals. These segments affect gene regulation, enabling traits like large brains and sensory whiskers. The study reveals how human evolution occurred through subtle DNA changes.
Researchers have identified a small virus that targets and rescues infected zooplankton from death. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origin of jumping genes found in other organisms.
A new study reveals that Alu elements inserted into existing genes can alter protein production rates, contributing to evolutionary differences between humans and other primates. The research uses high-throughput RNA sequencing data to quantify the frequency and location of Alu-derived exons in human genes.
A new international study found that classic selective sweeps may have played a smaller role in human evolution than thought. Researchers analyzed nearly 200 human genomes and found that smaller changes in multiple genes may have been the primary driver of human adaptation.
A team of UCR researchers will study mosquito genome sequences to identify 'transposable elements' that play a vital role in gene and genome evolution. The goal is to understand how mosquitoes adapt to their environment and potentially develop new genetic tools to control disease vectors.
A recent study on the leafcutter ant genome has shed light on its unique fungus-farming abilities, revealing how the insect's lifestyle has remade its genetic blueprint over time. The research provides a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between ants, fungi, and bacteria in this mutualistic relationship.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Hervé Philippe found that Xenoturbellida and Acoelomorpha marine worms evolved from more sophisticated ancestors through major simplifications, contradicting the idea of a linear hierarchy of evolution. The study demonstrates the importance of secondary simplification in evolution.
The freshwater crustacean Daphnia pulex has been found to have the most genes in an animal, with approximately 31,000 genes. This discovery was made possible by the sequencing of its genome and provides unprecedented insights into how an organism's genome interacts with its environment.
Researchers are studying the unique species Amborella to learn about the evolution of flowers and their characteristics, such as drought resistance and fruit maturity. The team hopes to gain insights into how flowers diversified over time and how they respond to global warming.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have discovered a significant number of new insertions of retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms (RIPs) in the human genome, expanding our understanding of genetic diversity. The study highlights the importance of retrotransposons in shaping human traits and disease risks.
The freshwater crustacean Daphnia pulex has the most genes, with approximately 31,000, which is three times greater than that of humans. Its genome sequenced, providing new insights into environmental stress and gene functions.
A recent study sequenced the genome of a red harvester ant and found significant differences in genes related to sense of smell, chemical signal detection, and immune system. These findings suggest that epigenetic modifications play a crucial role in regulating gene expression for division of labor and reproduction.
Researchers sequenced 240 samples to understand how S. pneumoniae bacteria evolves and adapts genetically in response to human interventions, revealing patterns of adaptation and spread of a drug-resistant lineage. The study suggests that knowing the enemy better could improve infection control measures.
A team of scientists has mapped the genome of orangutans, providing a new tool for conservation efforts and shedding light on the evolution of primates. The study reveals unique features of the orangutan genome, including fast-evolving genes related to visual perception and metabolic processes.
The study defines similarities and differences between the two populations, highlighting a neocentromere that appears in both populations. Orangutans have more genetic variation within themselves than humans, with less structural rearrangement in their genome.
The study reveals that orangutan DNA is more diverse than humans, with a unique genetic stability that has remained unchanged for 15 million years. The researchers found deep diversity in both Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, which can aid conservation efforts and inform studies of human evolution.
A recent study published in Genome Research found that certain regions of the human genome are more similar to those of orangutans than chimpanzees, contrary to previous assumptions. This suggests that humans and orangutans shared a common ancestor with high genetic diversity, while chimpanzees may have experienced a genetic bottleneck.
The orangutan genome sequence provides unique insights into human evolution, revealing genetic similarities with a putative ancestral great ape. The study also highlights the importance of conserving genetic diversity in orangutan populations, particularly for the critically endangered Sumatran species.
A groundbreaking study led by LSU's Mark Batzer has decoded the orangutan genome, revealing unexpected insights into its evolution and genetic diversity. The research found that two distinct orangutan species exist, with one species having limited genetic diversity due to a condensed habitat.
A team of researchers has successfully demonstrated the molecular evolution of two competing functions from a single gene, AFP III, which helps Antarctic fish survive in frigid waters. The study confirms the ancestry of antifreeze proteins and validates a decades-old hypothesis about gene duplication.
A team of scientists at MIT has deciphered 3 billion-year-old genomic fossils using modern-day genomes. The study reveals that the collective genome of all life underwent an expansion between 3.3 and 2.8 billion years ago, resulting in 27% new gene families.
A recent study found that nearly 30% of new genes in fruit flies were lethal when silenced, suggesting that new genes are equally important to older genes. The discovery challenges long-held beliefs about the importance of ancient genes and may have implications for human health.
Despite its large genome, powdery mildew has lost many essential genes, limiting its ability to fix nitrogen, harness energy, or produce metabolic products.
A recent study has shed light on the genetic code of a plant pathogen that causes downy mildew disease. The analysis revealed massive gene loss in the pathogen, which is essential for its stealthy lifestyle, and could lead to new ways to investigate how these pathogens wreak havoc and prevent billions of dollars of losses for farmers.
Researchers discover parasites within the fungus help it adapt and overcome plant defenses, leading to rapid evolution and devastating impact on agricultural yield. The study could lead to significant advances in developing new agricultural techniques for protecting cereal crops from infection.
Scientists at Umeå Plant Science Center and Syngenta have discovered a previously unknown gene in sugar beets that inhibits blooming. This discovery enables the control of flowering time in biennial sugar beets, allowing for increased yields and extended harvesting periods.