Tag Archives: genome
Cone snail genome sheds light on venom evolution
Hans Zauner - May 27, 2021
This week in GigaScience we published the genome of the mediterranean cone snail, Lautoconus ventricosus. Cone snails produce a wide variety of powerful toxins and the new chromosome-scale genome assembly opens the door for detailed investigations of their diversity and evolution.
Ukraine Genome Survey Adds Missing Pieces to Human Diversity Puzzle
Scott Edmunds - January 13, 2021
The Ukraine Genome Project finds quarter of the genetic variation in Europe, dramatically increasing information on population diversity and medical genetics.
GigaScience at Cell Bio 2020 Virtual
Chris Armit - January 5, 2021
Chris Armit attended Cell Bio 2020 Virtual (the online ASCB|EMBO Meeting) and here provides a write-up of the excited Cell Biology on display in this conference.
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.
The genome of an elusive giant
Hans Zauner - January 16, 2020
Today, GigaScience published a report on the genome of a truly unique species: the giant squid Architeuthis dux. The elusive animal is the main character in ancient stories about sea monsters and it is known as “the kraken” in many legends. For a long time its mere existence was questionable, until, in 1857, the Danish naturalist Japetus […]
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 […]
Swallows and Optical Maps For Ever!
Scott Edmunds - November 30, 2018
While they say one swallow doesn’t make a spring, one swallow genome makes a welcome contribution to the avian genome club. Taking advantage of the latest genomic and optical mapping technologies, a team of Scientists from the University of Milan, California State Polytechnic University and the University of Pavia, have carried out the high quality […]
Tegu: the most complete assembly of any reptile genome
Hans Zauner - November 28, 2018
Today in GigaScience we present the genome of the tegu lizard. It is the most complete assembly of any reptile genome so far and will also aid scientists to study other lizards and snakes. The tegu has mastered a trick that is highly unusual in the reptile world: it can turn on its own heating […]
Genomes mite surprise you
Hans Zauner - November 19, 2018
In GigaScience, Benjamin Makepiece and his co-authors from Liverpool present genome assemblies of two trombidid mite species, the itch-inducing chigger mite and its more benign cousin, the velvet mite. The bite of the chigger mite can transmit a life-threatening bacterial disease, scrub typhus. When the authors explored the gene content of the mites’ genomes, searching clues for […]
Toads and toxins: The genome of the invasive cane toad
Hans Zauner - September 24, 2018
The cane toad Rhinella marina is native to Central and South America. But thanks to humans and the sugar cane trade, the species now thrives also in Australia and other places where it doesn’t belong. The invasive species comes with an unpleasant surprise for native Australian predators, such as snakes or freshwater crocodiles: R. marina kills them with its […]