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.
Big Blue and the Genome
October 06, 2009
IBM is getting in on the $1,000 genome race — and plan to bring that cost even lower, to $100. The company's approach is based on what it calls "DNA transistor," reports the New York Times. (Our sister publication GenomeWeb Daily News covers this here.) IBM plans to develop a silicon-based system containing a million nanopores through which DNA can be ratcheted to sequence a genome in a few hours. "To bring about an era of personalized medicine, it isn't enough to know the DNA of an average person," says IBM's Gustavo Stolovitzky. "As a community, it became clear we need to make efforts to sequence in a way that is fast and cheap." However, Elaine Mardis tells the Times that previous attempts to develop a silicon-based nanopore system didn't pan out. "DNA strands seem to have a mind of their own," she says.
