Alison Campbell • Nov 04, 2016 •
I’ve just come across a most excellent article by the Genetic Literacy Project. In it, Nicholas Staropoli notes that a proportion of the human genome actually has viral origins. This might sound a bit strange – after all, we tend to think of viruses as our enemies (smallpox, measles, and the human papilloma virus come to mind). But, as … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Jul 26, 2015 •
I’d like to add a few words to Peter Deardon’s call for a 100 Taonga Genomes project to sequence the genomes of iconic New Zealand species. One aspect of genome projects, at least well-supported ones, is that websites developed to present them, these can serve as focal hubs for information about those species, that are … Read More
Michael Edmonds • Oct 13, 2013 •
I came across The Incomplete Map of the Cosmic Genome yesterday, an iTunes app which contains interviews with over 50 scientists, performers and communicators all talking about why they are interested in science. It also contains a series of talks on various fascinating subjects including dark matter, the nature of vocalisation, discovering epigenetics. Some of those interviewed are well known … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Oct 02, 2013 •
Answering a question from the Tuatara genome blog and starting a new series, Not Just DNA.[1] We are entering the age of the genome.[2] Our genomes tell us about ourselves. Genome sequences show our evolutionary relationships with other species. They reveal the origin and migration of humans. Unwelcome changes to our genomes can … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Jul 05, 2013 •
Here’s a simple game that might amuse readers for a few minutes. It’s an easy game meant for everyone, on the National Geographic website. Your challenge is simply to order the species by how many of their genes are also found in humans. Give it a go and let us know how you get on. Read More
Aimee Whitcroft • Mar 26, 2013 •
Those of you who read this blog regularly (or not) will likely have picked up that I have something of a passion for things involving citizen science and education-type stuff. So, with that in mind, I present to you ‘science:… Read more › … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Feb 06, 2013 •
Epigenetics is a term that is increasingly being heard of outside of molecular biology or genetics. One of my interests is how gene regulation works, how the molecules that control genes do their thing. You can think of epigenetics as gene regulation through controlling the availability of genes to be used or not. While … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Sep 18, 2011 •
In this short (11 minute) TEDxBoston lecture Dr. Richard Resnick gives the hard sell on widespread genome sequencing. [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8bsCiq6hvM[/embed] A few quick pointers or thoughts from my viewing of it: … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Jul 11, 2010 •
It’s hard convey the scale of very small or very large things by just quoting measurements as the measurements don’t relate well to our perception of everyday objects. [caption id="attachment_2956" align="alignleft" width="327" caption="Snapshot from infographic (Source: University of Utah.)"][/caption] This interactive infographic presented by the Genetic Science Learning Centre at the University … Read More
Guest Author • Feb 26, 2010 •
By Dr Peter Dearden* My group has been involved with genome sequencing since 2004, when we were asked to become involved with the honeybee genome. This week we published our second insect genome, that of the Pea Aphid which was the culmination of 6 years collaborative work with over 200 scientists from 15 countries. The project has cost several … Read More