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Add a Gene Here, Swap a Gene There: That'll Keep 'Em Guessing

May 06, 2009

New York Times has an article on evolutionary biology in swine flu with a focus on Hong Kong University virologist Gavin Smith. Along with colleagues around the world, Smith has been "furiously analyzing the new swine flu to figure out how and when it evolved," the story says. The article, written by Carl Zimmer, includes a nice description of the diversity of viruses and their extraordinary ability to mutate at high speeds.

Breaking News
The Scan

Rise of BA.5

The New York Times reports that the Omicron subvariant BA.5 has become the dominant version of SARS-CoV-2 in the US.

UK Health Secretary Resigns

Sajid Javid, the UK health secretary, resigned along with Chancellor Rishi Sunak, saying they cannot work with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government, CNN reports.

Clones From Freeze-Dried Cells

A team in Japan has cloned mice from freeze-dried skin cells, according to the Guardian.

Genome Research Papers on Craniosynostosis, Macaque Retrotransposition, More

In Genome Research this week: structural variants in craniosynostosis, LINE-1 activity in rhesus macaque brain, and more.