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.
Who Says Scientists Don't Have Rhythm?
March 10, 2009
Hey, you look like you're in need of some good procrastination material. Fortunately we have plenty of DNA song videos to keep you from any real work you might've gotten done today.
First up: "Regulatin' Genes," in which Derrick Davis and Tom McFadden from Stanford parody a Jay-Z song to offer some tips on gene regulation and cell specialization. Truly worth two and a half minutes of your time.
Next, Andre posts a video at Biocurious -- this one's called "The Nano Song" and, yes, it's a nanotechnology lesson for puppets.
Finally, David Dooling at PolITiGenomics links out to DNA Rainbow, which evidently has converted the human reference sequence into audio. "You can listen to a the entire human genome reference sequence, base by base, if you have 23 years to kill," Dooling writes.
