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.
Researchers Probe Alligator Blood Proteins For Potential Antimicrobial Applications
In the wild, alligators suffer serious injuries but rarely develop infections, even though living in marshes exposes them to all sorts of microbes. Researchers at McNeese State University and Louisiana State University are now using mass spec-based technology to study proteins found in alligator blood for possible therapeutic applications.
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