Single-cell genomics sheds light on nutrient and carbon cycling in Actinobacteria. The Science: Researchers assembled and compared draft genomes of acI Actinobacteria from single cells collected in four freshwater lakes in the United States and Europe. The Impact: The single cells collected represented three different acI tribes of Actinobacteria, allowing researchers to learn more about… [Read More]

Differences between genome sequences warrant fungal reclassifications. The Science: Researchers sequenced four samples of Aureobasidium fungi from various regions of the world to learn more about their potential biotechnological applications. The Impact: Comparative genomic analyses reveal genes that make the fungi capable of adapting to a wide range of environments and stresses, which can be… [Read More]

Comparative analyses reveal gene family conserved across multiple yeast lineages. The Science: Researchers conducted a comparative analysis of nearly 60 fungal genomes to determine the genetic traits that enabled the convergent evolution of yeasts. The Impact: The analyses suggest that a conserved zing-finger transcription factor family allowed yeasts to become the dominant form in multiple… [Read More]

Single-cell genomics unravels a microbial species’ role in breaking down hydrocarbons. The Science: Researchers sequenced and analyzed a single cell of Colwellia bacteria to understand why these microbes were predominant in the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Impact: Understanding the characteristics of the Colwellia bacteria furthers the researchers understanding of… [Read More]

Transposable elements in a genome could make plant pathogens more flexible with their hosts. The Science: Researchers examined a correlation between fungal plant pathogens and the abundance of transposable elements in their genomes. They looked at the mechanisms of transposable elements in symbionts that are similar to those in pathogens. The Impact: Fungal plant pathogens may… [Read More]

Since the generation of the first draft sequence, DOE JGI researchers have been improving a key algal genome. The Science: The high-quality genome sequence of the tiny single-celled alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has proved useful for researchers studying photosynthesis and cell motility. The Impact: In the decade since researchers initiated plans to sequence and now annotate… [Read More]

Researchers highlight the advantages of promoting beneficial plant-microbe relationships.  The Science: The usual response to plant stressors such as low nutrient availability and disease has been to breed or develop cultivars that are tolerant or resistant to these concerns. In recent years, researchers have been paying more attention to the interactions between plants and microbial… [Read More]

Scientists study particular response to environment and its effect upon phenotype. The Science: Scientists grew Boechera stricta plants in soil inoculated with microbes from natural B. stricta habitats to study the flowering time phenotype. The Impact: The technique researchers employed to isolate soil microbes to study their effect on a single plant phenotype can potentially… [Read More]

Genome-wide scan of maize population finds genes affected by long-term artificial selection. The Science: Researchers conducted a genome-wide scan of a long-term maize breeding study to find the genes involved in increasing the number of ears per maize plant. The Impact: The study demonstrates how significantly reduced costs associated with sequencing and the ability to… [Read More]

Microbes disprove long-held assumption that all organisms share a common vocabulary. The Science: Through single-cell genomics and metagenomics, researchers exploring the planet’s microbial diversity have found that not all organisms interpret a series of short genetic sequences to mean the same thing. The Impact: The ability to study microbes in the wild helps researchers realize… [Read More]