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.
Non-Profits, Investors Worry About Proposed Washington State Tax Surcharge Increase
Leroy Hood called the bill short-sighted and said that over the long-term it could potentially reduce the attractiveness of starting up companies in the Seattle area.
March 19, 2010
Affymetrix and Osmetech named new CFOs this week, while Agilent promoted Rick Burdsall to the newly created position of chief infrastructure officer, and Shankar Balasubramanian has won the Innovator of the Year award from the UK's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; plus more.
March 19, 2010
In Brief This Week: Promega; Sigma-Aldrich; HistoRx; Med fusion
In Brief This Week is a Friday column containing news items that our readers may have missed during the week.
March 19, 2010
NCI to Fund Molecular Research into Cancer-Fighting Foods
The research may use genomic, proteomic, and other methods to understand the molecular reasons why some foods inhibit or suppress cancer.
March 19, 2010
Osmetech Files for US IPO; Creates US Parent
The British molecular diagnostics firm intends to raise around $40 million in a US IPO and will be based in the US as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GenMark Diagnostics.
March 19, 2010
Osmetech's 2009 Revenues Rise 81 Percent
The British molecular diagnostics firm's revenues rose on increased sales of its cystic fibrosis genotyping test and a warfarin sensitivity test.
March 19, 2010
BGI, US Team Launches Symbiont Genome Project
Chinese and American researchers plan to sequence and compare the genomes of the sea slug, Elysia chlorotica, and Vaucheria litorea, an algal species from which the slug has taken chloroplast biosynthesis genes.
March 19, 2010
Australian Research Institute Begins First Phase of Major Expansion
The Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute said it plans to start construction immediately on the first phase of a project intended to greatly expand its space and facilitate research into brain injury and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
March 19, 2010
NIH Plans Genetic Testing Registry
The registry, which is slated for 2011, will be a resource of information on the availability, utility, and validity of genetic tests.
March 18, 2010
NCI-Led Team Explores Predictive Use of Breast Cancer Risk Variants
A NEJM study suggests 10 breast cancer risk variants add little information to non-genetic risk prediction models.
March 18, 2010
Nanosphere Respiratory Panel Categorized as Moderate Complexity
The Verigene SP respiratory virus panel is the first of Nanosphere's test to get the moderate complexity designation.
March 18, 2010
Transcription Factor Binding Differences Detected in Humans, Yeast
Researchers from the US, UK, and Germany used chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing to identify and begin characterizing transcription factor binding variability in humans and yeast.
March 18, 2010
OGT Signs up Kreatech as France Distributor
Kreatech will distribute the CytoSure array product line for cytogenetics and molecular biology applications.
March 18, 2010
