A Nature Genetics study describes a method that could be harnessed for developing more accurate predictive climate change models.
Understanding Aureobasidium’s Adaptability
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…
How yeast formations got started
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…
High quality reference Brassicales genomes
The Brassicaceae constitute not only one of the most diverse plant families, but also one rich in agronomically-important vegetable and oilseed crops. Several species have been domesticated and include different cabbages, broccoli, turnip, rapeseed, horseradish, and several mustards. Brassicaceae include a number of species that are current and emerging biodiesel crops. Researchers plan to generate…
Dark ocean microbial single cell genomics
Considered one of the largest biomes on Earth, the dark ocean is comprised of the water column below the epipelagic, including meso-, bathy- and abyssopelagic and the hadal zones. It contains an active and metabolically diverse microbial assemblage that is responsible for about half of marine organic carbon mineralization. A large-scale single cell genomics study…
1000 Fungal Genomes
More than any other group of eukaryotic microbes, fungi are essential biological components of the global carbon cycle. Collectively, fungi are capable of degrading almost any naturally occurring biopolymer and numerous human-made ones. The use of fungi for the continued benefit of humankind, however, requires an accurate understanding of how they interact in naturally and…
Investigating the Serpentinite-hosted Subsurface Biosphere
Serpentinization is the aqueous alteration of ultramafic rocks, characteristic of the Earth’s mantle, and results in the generation of highly-reducing, hydrogen- and methane- rich fluids with extremely high pH’s (commonly greater than 11). Microbial communities hosted within serpentinites may be important mediators of carbon and energy exchange between the deep Earth and the surface biosphere….
Defining the Populus Microbiome
Populus is considered the model organism for the study of woody perennials, and represents the first tree genome to be fully sequenced. Populus is also one of only a few species that are capable of establishing associations with both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi, as well as various specific endophytic and rhizosphere associated…
Metagenomic consequences of Amazon deforestation
The Amazon rainforest plays an essential role in global ecological processes. It is the largest terrestrial carbonsequestering ecosystem in the world, controlling global temperature and precipitation, and balancing the flux of atmospheric gases. It is also the largest repository of plant and animal species on Earth. Despite its importance, it is one of the least…
Functional genomics in Coprinopsis cinerea
While most basidiomycetes are difficult to cultivate in the laboratory, Coprinopsis cinerea is a notable exception in that it can complete its life cycle on artificial media in just two weeks. The C. cinerea genome is well-characterized, and both forward and reverse genetic approaches are now standard, allowing enormous scope for experimental manipulation in this…