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.
Scared of Innovation
September 03, 2008
The former chief technology officer of Cisco Systems, Judy Estrin, is worried about the state of innovation in the United States. According to the New York Times, Estrin says that the lag in innovation is due to a focus on short-term thinking and not taking risks, mainly due to a lack of federal and university funding, cautious venture capitalists, as well as regulations discouraging the growth of start-up companies. Her new book is called Closing the Innovation Gap.
