Tag Archives: genomics
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.
Not all species are equal: Using the h-index to quantify taxonomic bias (author Q&A)
Hans Zauner - August 16, 2022
The h-index is a metric that was invented to summarise the publication output and impact of researchers. In a new GigaScience article, authors from the University of New South Wales (Australia) adopt the controversial metric to explore systematic differences in research interest (taxonomic bias), using mammals as an example.
Sequencing genomes across the planet at Biodiversity Genomics 2021
Chris Armit - October 7, 2021
Biodiversity Genomics 2021 was again virtual and brought together researchers across the world who are sequencing all of the corners of the tree of life. Here we have a write-up from Chris Armit.
Update on Updates. GigaByte’s new article type to speed up science
Scott Edmunds - June 15, 2021
We have an update on the Update article, GigaByte’s new article type to speed up the sharing and communication of science through allowing publication of data and software versions that are immediately useful to the community.
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.
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.
Cracking sex chromosome evolution via egg-laying birds and mammals
Scott Edmunds - January 7, 2021
Ducks, Emu’s, Platypus and Echidna’s, oh my! New work on the duck and other egg-laying animal genomes helps crack sex chromosomes evolution and diversity in a number of bird and monotreme species.
New beginnings during a pandemic – the COVID year in review
Hans Zauner - December 17, 2020
Looking back at this unusual year, we are happy to report that GigaScience not only kept going under difficult circumstances, publishing outstanding examples of Big Data science and introducing innovations in the review process. We also opened a new chapter with the launch of a sister journal, GigaByte .
iPhone Genomics: beaming us up to the “tricorder” era
Scott Edmunds - December 8, 2020
The 1st comprehensive mobile genome analysis application, iGenomics, is now available for use on an iphone. By pairing an smartphone with a handheld DNA sequencer, users will be able to create a mobile genetics laboratory, reminiscent of the Star Trek’s tricorder.
A New Monitoring Tool Empowering Infectious Disease Detectives
Scott Edmunds - October 22, 2020
Out this week in GigaScience is a new monitoring tool empowering infectious disease detectives. Scientists in Cambodia, who are supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, used the new IDseq tool to help confirm and sequence the whole genome of the country’s first case of COVID-19. Read more here.