A new genomic analysis of the blue peafowl and its endangered green sister species provides insights into unwanted hybridization between these closely related birds, which may pose a risk to conservation efforts. The authors of a new GigaScience article also show  that a mutation in one specific gene, EDNRB2, causes a unique white plumage variant […]

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Today is World Pangolin Day!  To celebrate the occasion GigaScience presents a new article, adding two chromosome-scale genome sequences and in-depth genomic analyses. Pangolins are cute, but the reason why it’s important to draw regular attention to these scaly mammals is more sober: Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammals in the world, with more than […]

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This week we published a new, high-quality genome sequence of one of Australia’s most iconic animals, the short beaked echidna. The almost gapless genome sequence of this egg-laying mammal helps researchers to track genomic reshuffling events that gave rise to a perplexing  sex determination system. At first glance they may be mistaken for a weird-looking […]

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It’s December again, and our teams of editors and curators are busy with the many submissions we receive at this time of year. Scientists are eager to clear their desks before a well-earned break and it’s time for the annual GigaBlog ritual: Looking back at the year that was at GigaScience Press. Citizen Science  2024 […]

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This week in GigaScience we published a new genomic analysis of the endangered Oriental Stork, bringing good news: The population’s genetic health is still surprisingly strong, with high genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding. Climate change, forest wildfires, hunting and the expansion of agriculture, industry and other human activities threaten the Oriental Stork (Ciconia […]

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Plant phenotyping – the science of gathering precise information and measurements on plants – has seen massive improvements recently, and the combination of sensor technology and AI methods will continue to change the way crops are assessed and improved. A new article in GigaScience demonstrates where this is going: Jonas Bömer and colleagues at the […]

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Few countries have a biodiversity that’s comparable to Brazil’s, including plant-based food sources that are little known elsewhere.  Even in big cities you may pick all kinds of fruit directly from the tree, which can be both tasty and also interesting for the botanist. The Citizen Science project “Pomar Urbano” collects data on urban fruit-bearing […]

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We start the new year with news from the deep, published in GigaScience: The genome of a sea cucumber, collected at a depth of 2400 m during a submarine trip to a hydrothermal vent, helps scientists to understand how marine animals can survive in extreme conditions. Hydrothermal vents are an unlikely environment for animals to […]

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It’s December, the festive season and the end of  year are approaching fast –  and it’s time for our traditional look back on the past 12 months at GigaScience Press. Once more, we are pleased with the view in the rear mirror.  In its 11th year, GigaScience again published exceptional “big data” science (read on […]

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Genome analysis of 100 oat plants from around the world reveal that naked and hulled oat varieties diverged more than 50.000 years ago.

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