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.
You Win Some, You Lose Some
August 24, 2009
TruGenetics, which in June was offering free genetic scans to its first 10,000 customers, has not been able to secure funding. John Fossella at Genes to Brains to Mental Health and Bertalan Meskó at Science Roll both post the letter they've received from TruGenetics. "Despite our best efforts and contrary to our expectations, our funding sources did not come through and to date, we have been unable to secure funding for launching our genome scanning program," it says.
Complete Genomics has had better luck. The company announced it raised $45 million in its most recent funding round, according to Xconomy.
