Genetics

Scientists Publish Fully Annotated Reference Genome of Bread Wheat

The International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) published this week the first fully annotated reference genome of the bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), one of the world’s most important crops. Wheat field. Image credit: Pezibear. Wheat is the most widely cultivated crop on Earth, contributing about a fifth of the total …

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Researchers Identify Two Genes that Control REM Sleep

An international group of scientists from Japan and Australia has identified two essential genes involved in the regulation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The acetylcholine pathway has been proposed to be important for wakefulness and REM sleep, but genetic evidence has been missing. Using a knockout of acetylcholine receptor …

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Scientists Sequence Poppy Genome

A team of researchers from Australia, China and the United Kingdom has sequenced and analyzed the genome of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae. This breakthrough, reported in the journal Science, reveals the origins of the genetic pathway leading to the production …

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Study: Genetic Factors are Key to Academic Success

According to a large new study of twins, genetics explains more than 60% of individual differences in school achievement. Rimfeld et al use twin analyses and genome-wide polygenic score analyses of longitudinal data from the Twins Early Development Study from age 7 to age 16, including GCSE scores, to investigate …

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Scientists Sequence Genome of Invasive Cane Toad

An international team of scientists has sequenced and analyzed the draft genome of the cane toad (Rhinella marina), a poisonous amphibian native to Central and South America that has spread across many regions of the globe. The findings appear in the journal GigaScience. A cane toad (Rhinella marina), adult female. …

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Groundcherry Could Be Agriculture’s Next Big Berry Crop

The groundcherry (Physalis pruinosa), also called ‘husk cherry’ and ‘strawberry tomato,’ is native to Central and South America. This tropical-tasting fruit is approximately the same size as a cherry tomato, but with a much sweeter flavor. It contains vitamins B and C, beta-carotene, phytosterols and antioxidants, and has anti-inflammatory and …

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New ‘Gene Drive’ Can Wipe Out Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes

In some parts of the world, mosquitos are more than a nuisance. These insects can transmit deadly diseases like malaria, which kills 400,000 people every year. Public health agencies have worked to reduce mosquito populations, but researchers from Imperial College London have developed a genetic technique that could control mosquito …

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