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Genomic analysis of early SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Boston shows role of superspreading events

A genomic analysis of early SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in Boston found that a small number of importations led to most cases, while superspreading events played a significant role in the spread of the virus. The study tracked the downstream effects of these events and highlights the importance of prevention and mitigation strategies.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateDec 10, 2020
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

The world's first DNA 'tricorder' in your pocket

The iGenomics app allows iPhone users to create a mobile genetics laboratory, enabling pandemic and ecology workers to study DNA on-the-go. The device can quickly map viral pathogen sequences and identify mutations for diagnosis and treatment.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGigaScience·DateDec 7, 2020

Are corals genetically equipped to survive climate change?

Researchers sequenced and analyzed coral genomes, discovering genes that may help corals adapt to ocean warming. The study found that Acropora corals diversified when the world's oceans were warmer, suggesting they could handle temperature changes.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateOct 14, 2020

Genomic characteristics, transmission routes of patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in Southern California during early stage of COVID-19 pandemic

A case series of 192 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in Southern California investigated transmission routes and local community spread within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The study found that multiple transmission routes existed, including household, healthcare-associated, and travel-related cases.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 7, 2020

App analyzes coronavirus genome on a smartphone

A new mobile app, Genopo, developed by Garvan Institute of Medical Research, makes genomics more accessible to remote or under-resourced regions and the hospital bedside. The app enables fast, real-time genomic analysis on a smartphone, opening possibilities for point-of-care testing and unlocking information in DNA or RNA.

SourceGarvan Institute of Medical Research·JournalCommunications Biology·DateSep 29, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Genomic analysis of penguins' evolutionary success

New research sheds light on penguin evolution, revealing a pivotal role for climate change in their geographic expansion. Genetic analysis indicates that penguins originated along temperate coastlines before expanding into Antarctic regions.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2020
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

redHUMAN: Deciphering links between genes and metabolism

Researchers have developed a new method called redHUMAN to simplify genome-scale metabolic models for analyzing human metabolism. This approach reduces the complexity of human genome-scale models by focusing on specific parts of metabolism while minimizing information loss.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 4, 2020

Ancient genomes reveal demographic history of France

The analysis of ancient genomes has revealed how demographic events such as migrations have spurred major cultural shifts in France. The study found that Magdalenian-associated ancestry survived beyond the Iberian Peninsula, and that Neolithic people who migrated to France descended from Anatolian farmers.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 25, 2020

Evolution of lions

Researchers analyzed genomic data of 20 lion specimens, including extinct cave lions from Siberia and India, finding a shared ancestor 500,000 years ago. The study suggests limited gene flow between modern lions' lineages after their divergence 70,000 years ago.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 4, 2020
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

DNA damage and faulty repair jointly cause mutations

Researchers analyzed over 2700 C. elegans genomes to understand the causes of mutations. They found that DNA damage and inaccurate repair mechanisms can lead to mutations, which are a root cause of cancer. The study challenges the assumption of a single cause for mutational signatures in cancer genomes.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory - European Bioinformatics Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 1, 2020

Evolution of pregnancy and immune system

The evolution of pregnancy in seahorses and pipefishes is linked to modifications of the adaptive immune system. Genomic analysis reveals divergent genomic rearrangements in the MHC II pathway, which may help study immune deficiencies.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 13, 2020

A pilot study of the sequencing of the intestinal microbiota for colon cancer

Researchers from IDIBELL and ICO conducted a pilot study to analyze intestinal microbiota genome in colon cancer patients. They used two sequencing methods, 16s and Shotgun, and found both techniques consistent, with complete sequencing more sensitive but not contradictory to single-gene sequencing.

SourceIDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute·JournalScientific Data·DateMar 31, 2020

New insights into the Transatlantic slave trade on African ancestry in the Americas

Researchers analyzed 6,267 individuals to infer African group contributions to North-, South-American and Caribbean populations, finding enrichment of West-African ancestry in northern latitudes and South/East African ancestry in southern South-America.

SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateMar 3, 2020
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Why the goby can conquer the waters of the world

The round goby's exceptional adaptability is attributed to its immune system, which features up to 30 times more inflammatory genes than comparable species. This enables the fish to deal with pathogens and extreme environmental conditions, facilitating its successful colonization of diverse waters around the world.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalBMC Biology·DateFeb 11, 2020

Scientists identify new genetic drivers of cancer

Researchers have identified new genetic drivers of cancer in non-coding regions of the genome, finding that many cancers are driven by mutations in these areas. The study confirmed previously reported drivers and invalidated others, while also identifying novel putative driver rearrangements near genes called AKR1C.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature·DateFeb 5, 2020

Analysis of human genomes in the cloud

Butler simplifies genomic data analysis by constantly collecting health metrics and automating self-healing modules. This reduces large project execution times from years to months, improving researcher productivity and efficiency.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateFeb 5, 2020

Studying DNA rearrangement to understand cancer

Researchers used the Pan-Cancer dataset to classify structural variations in cancer genomes and link them to mechanisms of formation. They identified complex processes that can lead to cancer genes becoming active, and developed methods to identify these variations.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature·DateFeb 5, 2020
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Knowledge Engine is ready to accelerate genomic research

KnowEnG, a Knowledge Engine for Genomics, guides researchers through complex genomic datasets by relating genes of interest to existing knowledge. The platform enables seamless analysis and interpretation, removing obstacles faced by biomedical researchers.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalPLOS Biology·DateFeb 3, 2020

Study tracks genomic changes that reinforce darter speciation

Researchers tracked genomic changes in hybrid orangethroat and rainbow darters, finding regions with genetic divergence contributing to reproductive incompatibility. These differences likely disrupt cell division and alter gene expression, driving the evolution of distinct traits.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateNov 25, 2019
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Genomic fluke close-up

A recent study reveals that parasitic flukes have a long evolutionary history, with genome comparisons showing significant adaptations to different hosts. The research team found that fasciolid flukes may have originated in ancient African elephants and later expanded into Eurasian herbivores.

SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateOct 1, 2019

Hamsters take cues from decreasing day length to prepare for the long winter

Researchers found that decreasing day length alone triggers dramatic weight loss in Siberian hamsters, regardless of food or temperature. The study reveals the cascade of signals that prepare the hamsters for winter, controlled by thyroid hormone and gene expression.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 10, 2019

Ancient DNA illuminates first herders and farmers in east Africa

Researchers analyzed 41 ancient sub-Saharan Africans, revealing a multi-stage model for the spread of food production into Kenya and Tanzania. The study found that Stone Age herders across East Africa had closely related genomes, despite cultural differences, and that genes for lactose digestion were rare in first East African herders.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience·DateMay 30, 2019
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

On-the-spot genome analysis

Researchers at Garvan Institute of Medical Research have developed a computational method to reduce the amount of memory necessary for genome alignment, allowing for real-time analysis on smartphones. This breakthrough enables remote disease identification and point-of-care microbial infections.

SourceGarvan Institute of Medical Research·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 13, 2019
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

What happened 4,000 years ago in the Urals?

Researchers are studying Bronze Age activity in the Urals to understand demographic processes and settlement structures. They are analyzing palaeogenetic techniques, archaeological excavations, geophysical surveys, material culture, and archaeobotany to find answers about population genetics, cultural transformation, and demography.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·DateJan 17, 2019

Returning indigenous remains to their ancestral lands, thanks to ancient DNA

A new study uses ancient nuclear genomes to determine the geographic origins of Aboriginal Australian remains, enabling their return to ancestral lands. The analysis shows that for most all of the ancient nuclear genomes, the most closely related contemporary genome was from people living today in the same geographic region.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 19, 2018

Genomic analysis offers insight into 2018 Nigeria Lassa fever outbreak

A genomic analysis of Lassa virus genomes from patients in Nigeria found that the surge in cases in 2018 was not driven by a single dominant virus strain. The study suggests that human-to-human transmission may be rare, with evidence pointing to multiple independent zoonotic transmissions through contact with rodent feces or urine.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 17, 2018

GA4GH announces new interoperability standards for genomic data sharing

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) has released three new interoperability standards: Beacon API, refget API, and Workflow Execution Service (WES) API. These standards address variant discovery, patient case discovery, reference sequence harmonization, and cloud computing to enable responsible genomic data sharing.

SourceGlobal Alliance for Genomics and Health·DateOct 5, 2018
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

A mechanism of color pattern formation in ladybird beetles

A study on Asian ladybird beetles reveals a single gene, pannier, that regulates diverse color patterns. The gene's expression affects black and red pigmentation in the forewing, driving morphological evolution.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 26, 2018

Scientists took another step towards creating an HIV vaccine

A research group led by Professor Andrei Kozlov has identified a key genetic bottleneck effect that could help design an HIV vaccine. By analyzing blood samples from injecting drug users with early stages of HIV infection, scientists discovered that all viruses share a common ancestor.

SourcePeter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University·JournalAIDS Research and Human Retroviruses·DateJul 30, 2018
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Study investigates the reproductive habits of the fungus that causes athlete's foot

A recent study published in the journal Genetics found that the fungus Trichophyton rubrum exhibits asexual reproduction as its primary method of reproduction. The research suggests that mating between individuals is rare and requires highly specific conditions, resulting in low genetic variability within the population.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalGenetics·DateJun 28, 2018

UA genetics research verifies purity of the Mexican wolf

A recent study by researchers at the University of Arizona has found no evidence of domestic dog ancestry in the Mexican wolf population. The analysis of 87 Mexican wolves using genomic technology revealed a low percentage of genetic similarity with domestic dogs, suggesting that the species is genetically pure.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Heredity·DateJun 26, 2018

New tool enables big-scale analysis of single cells

Researchers developed a computational framework to analyze large-scale single-cell gene expression levels, enabling the study of unprecedented cellular heterogeneity in rare cell populations. The BigSCale tool successfully processed 1.3 million individual cells from a mouse brain dataset.

SourceCenter for Genomic Regulation·JournalGenome Research·DateJun 5, 2018

Female migration in Medieval Bavaria

Genomic analyses of fossil remains from 5th and 6th century AD sites in southern Germany uncover evidence of female-biased immigration in Early Medieval Bavaria. Women with artificial cranial deformation (ACD) show predominantly Southeast European ancestry, while one individual exhibits East Asian genetic markers.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2018

Horse domestication revisited: Botai horses did not sire today's steeds

A genomic study of ancient and modern horses reveals that the Botai horses, who lived on Central Asian steppes 5,500 years ago, did not contribute to the modern domesticated horse population. However, seven Przewalski's horses, an endangered feral group, show a connection to the original Botai group.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateFeb 22, 2018
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Ancient genomes shed light on divergence in human populations

Ancient African genomes show human populations diverged around 350,000-260,000 years ago. The study analyzed 7 ancient genomes, including a Stone Age hunter-gatherer and Iron Age farmers, finding correlations with fossil records.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateSep 28, 2017

Farmers selected maize for agricultural use at high elevations

Scientists analyzed ancient maize genomes to understand its adoption at high elevations. They found that desirable phenotypes were selected for by high-altitude farmers over thousands of years, rather than being introduced from modern-day Mexico.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateAug 3, 2017

UNIST reveals the whole genome sequences of rare red bat

Researchers at UNIST have sequenced the whole genome of the Myotis rufoniger, a critically endangered bat species, to understand its genetic basis. The study provides valuable insights into the species' demographic history, genomic diversity, and evolutionary origins.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 17, 2017

Story of silver birch from genomic big data

A recent study utilizing genomic big data analyzed the silver birch genome, uncovering population bottlenecks and speciation events that shaped the species' current form. The research also identified genes under natural selection, which have contributed to birch's cold tolerance and rapid growth.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalNature Genetics·DateMay 10, 2017
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Study identifies hundreds of genes that influence timing of puberty

A new study published in Nature Genetics has identified 389 genetic signals linked to the timing of puberty, including associations with an increased risk of breast, ovary, and endometrial cancers in women, and prostate cancer in men. The research also suggests that earlier puberty timing may have negative effects on later health.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Genetics·DateApr 24, 2017

Woolly mammoths experienced a genomic meltdown just before extinction

Researchers compared the genomes of a 45,000-year-old mainland mammoth with one from Wrangel Island, which had only 300 animals. The analysis revealed an excess of genetic defects, including loss of olfactory receptors and urinary proteins. This study provides insights into the effects of small population sizes on genome deterioration.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateMar 2, 2017

Navigating the human genome with Sequins

Researchers have developed Sequins, synthetic DNA sequences that reflect the human genome, allowing for improved analysis and diagnosis of genetic diseases. The technology provides internal standards to assess the accuracy of genomic data generated during sequencing.

SourceGarvan Institute of Medical Research·JournalNature Methods·DateAug 8, 2016
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Strike a pose -- bringing crop analysis into the 21st century

CropQuant uses Raspberry Pi computers to control infield cameras capturing crop growth images, then analyzes data on high-performance computers to link environmental data with crop traits. This enables scientists to reduce farming costs and improve crop yields through field-based phenotyping methods.

SourceEarlham Institute·DateJun 20, 2016