Tag Archives: genome assembly
DNA Day 2025: Where we are in the T2T Genomes Era, Pt 1
Scott Edmunds - April 25, 2025
Today is International DNA Day, commemorating the day in 1953 when Crick, Watson, Wilkins and Franklin published their papers on the structure of DNA. Fifty years later, with the declaration that the human genome project was close to completion the US Senate and the House of Representatives declared that 25th April 2003 would be the […]
Shades of blue and green
Hans Zauner - February 21, 2025
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 […]
A visit from the Oriental Stork
Hans Zauner - October 23, 2024
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 […]
Amazonian Morpho butterflies: three genomes with a twist
Hans Zauner - May 25, 2023
First full-length genome sequences for three species of Morpho butterflies show inversions on the Z chromosome.
The Genome of a Gentle Giant
Scott Edmunds - October 14, 2022
Researchers have published a new chromosome scale reference genome for the Aldabra giant tortoise, providing a much needed genetic resource for rescue and rewilding efforts.
Play it again, SAMtools. Q&A with the SAMtools team on 12 years of providing bioinformatics “glue”
Scott Edmunds - February 17, 2021
Today we publish the first update in 12 years describing what’s new in SAMtools, and for the first time the associated BCFtools and HTSlib software library. Here is a Q&A with the authors.
Q&A with Parice Brandies on the Antechinus Genome
Scott Edmunds - November 25, 2020
Parice Brandies presents a Q&A and video on her GigaByte paper on the brown antechinus genome (Antechinus stuartii), a fascinating marsupial with many biological surprises to explore.
Nectar, fruits, and blood. A genomic view on the feeding habits of bats.
Hans Zauner - June 9, 2020
Bats are mammals like no other – airborne, mostly nocturnal, often hidden away in caves, capable of using echolocation for in-flight navigation. No two bat species are alike, however. Their diversity of morphology, life styles and feeding habits is staggering. New bat genomics research published today in GigaScience explores the footprints of evolution, to explain […]
The genome of an elusive giant
Hans Zauner - January 16, 2020
Hear more on how an international team led by researchers at the University of Copenhagen has sequenced the elusive giant squid genome.
Genomic Warning Flag Just in Time for Beach Season: Jellyfish Toxins
Nicole Nogoy - July 4, 2019
Three jellyfish genomes are better than one A new article in GigaScience might make you squirm if you plan to hit the beach this summer. The published work presents the draft genomes of three different jellyfish species. The international group of researchers, lead by Joseph Ryan (University of Florida), chose to examine jellyfish that present a […]