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.
A Bright and Shiny Future -- Wait, No
September 20, 2007
Over on Aetiology, Tara Smith discusses the future of graduate students and post-docs – it is not looking so bright. She quotes a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article that says that the long training time, job shortages in academia, and the daunting competition for research grants is a bit of a turn-off. Smith says this isn't new but that suggestions to expose students to other options outside academia aren't usually implemented. One of her commenters notes that "non-academic employment [is not] a consolation prize."
