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.
S. Brenner on C. elegans
July 03, 2009
Over at Flies & Bikes, GrumpyBob has a post on a perspectives piece from Sydney Brenner in the latest issue of Genetics. "This brief article ... presents an account of the origins of Caenorhabditis elegans research, by the beast's main man," the blogger writes. What he found most interesting was Brenner's view on how the culture of science has shifted in the last several decades. For one thing, Brenner writes, scientists back in the day spent much more time in discussions and social settings (such as morning coffee or afternoon tea); "it was only after dinner that the real work started and the lab then filled up with the owls," he says.
