Sequencing and Analysis of the Hydra Genome
Chapman, Kirkness et al., Nature
An international research collaboration reports their sequencing and analysis of the Hydra magnipapillata genome, and compare it to the genomes of several other organisms. "The Hydra genome has been shaped by bursts of transposable element expansion, horizontal gene transfer, trans-splicing, and simplification of gene structure and gene content that parallel simplification of the Hydra life cycle," the authors write. They team suggests that comparisons of the Hydra genome to the reported sequences of other animals have helped them to elucidate the evolution of several of the organism's characteristics.
From $1000 to $0, Just Sign the Petition
January 14, 2008
A website called Personal Genome Net is offering the $0 Genome Project for genomic equality. Aiming to collect and distribute personal genome information for free, this "zero-cost genomics project" is supported by an organization called Genomics.org, which has built a collaborative website for users to get basic information. The wiki also hosts a petition, which you can sign if you're in favor of free genomic data (who isn't?).
