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New study finds recovery is still possible for critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper with urgent intervention

A new genomic study offers a unique lens for understanding the extinction crisis in Hawai'i, revealing that there is still time to save the critically endangered honeycreeper 'akeke'e. With only 17 species of iconic honeycreepers remaining, efforts to control mosquito populations and conservation breeding programs are underway.

SourceSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 29, 2025

ALG6 acts as a modifier gene in the inherited genetic eye disease retinitis pigmentosa 59

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham discovered that the ALG6 variant is associated with altered phenotypes in patients with RP59, including delayed peripheral rod degeneration and diminished macular cone photoreceptor health. This study highlights the complex effects of modifier genes in human genetic disease.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 20, 2024

Sex pays off

Research shows that asexual reproduction in stick insects, such as parthenogenesis, reduces genetic variability and slows down adaptation to environmental changes. This negatively impacts the speed of adaptation and genetic diversity in these insects.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 24, 2022