5 newsitems found by last query
| Ancient filovirus-remains found in genomes Also non-retroviral RNA viruses can leave a mark in the genome of species that were once infected. Using these so-called NIRVs (non-retroviral integrated RNA viruses), scientists showed that filoviruses (relatives of the Marburg and Ebola virus) have existed for tens of millions of years, making this family of viruses far older than scientists had thought. Link | 2010-06-28 |
| Another chapter in the ID discussion ID (Intelligent Design) is a movement popular within the religous community, trying to unite science and religion. This week in PNAS, an additional chapter was added to the discussion. John Avise, an evolutionary biologist, argues that within the human genome there are numerous cases that point towards evolution instead of intelligent design. Link | 2010-05-28 |
| The splicing code As we know, the central dogma (DNA - RNA - protein) is not all that simple. Alternative splicing provides the cell with additional versatility: making more then one protein from one mRNA. In Nature, Barash et al. try to break this additional genetic code, and they are surprisingly successful! Link | 2010-05-17 |
| Genomics to analyze pathogenicity A team of scientists analysed the genome Cryptococcus gattii, a pathogenic fungus that caused outbreaks in Canada and the USA. By comparing two closely related strains they tried to not only keep track of infections, but also to understand the origin and their virulence. One of the strains is hypervirulent, killing 100% of exposed mice. Link | 2010-04-23 |
| 10 years after the human genome Nature has a special about the first decade after the completion of the (draft) human genome. "Human genetics in 2010 looks infinitely more complex, and questions about how to make sense of the explosion in biological data are only becoming more pressing." Link | 2010-04-08 |