Science Highlights Archives - Page 2 of 27 - Archive

December 8, 2020

How Maize Makes An Antibiotic Cocktail

Maize produces a family of compounds that protects it against infections — using surprisingly few enzymes. The Science Maize (Zea mays) produces a plethora of antibiotics called zealexins. Even though scientists have identified at least 15 zealexins, they suspect there are even more to find. Zealexins are produced in every corn variety and protect maize… [Read More]

November 13, 2020

From Competition to Cooperation

Comparing 135 fungal genome sequences, researchers looked at how multiple forest fungi have independently evolved to establish symbiotic relationships with plants, and particularly how fungi that feed on decaying plant matter have transitioned to the symbiotic lifestyle. [Read More]

November 11, 2020

A Grass Model to Help Improve Giant Miscanthus

The reference genome for Miscanthus sinensis, and the associated genomic tools, allows Miscanthus to both inform and benefit from breeding programs of related candidate bioenergy feedstock crops such as sugarcane and sorghum. [Read More]

September 8, 2020

In Hot Spring Microbial Mat, Viruses Ride “Piggyback”

Scientists have used sequencing methods to comprehensively characterize viral-host interactions in a microbial mat for the first time. [Read More]

August 20, 2020

Effects of Polar Light Cycle on Microbial Food Web

Light-harvesting bacteria (phototrophs) in Antarctica’s Ace Lake defy the norm when it comes to nutrient cycling in polar regions. [Read More]

August 6, 2020

Gene Expression: From On-Off Switch to Dial

Scientists have developed a more nuanced library approach for fine-tuning gene expression in metabolic pathways in metabolic pathways. [Read More]

July 21, 2020

Computationally Classifying Fungal Lifestyles

As a proof of concept, researchers developed an algorithm that “taught” a computer how to classify 101 representative genomes of Dothideomycetes, the largest class of fungi, by lifestyles. [Read More]

May 13, 2020

Toward More Efficient Artificial Photosynthesis

A team successfully combined synthetic biology and microfluidics to develop a platform that mimics chloroplast. [Read More]

April 23, 2020

How to Target a Microbial Needle within a Community Haystack

A team developed a pipeline to first target cells from uncultivated microbes, and then retrieve and characterize their genomes. [Read More]

April 17, 2020

The Surprising Structure of a Shrub Willow Sex Chromosome

Understanding the mechanisms by which potential biofuel feedstocks reproduce can help guide breeding efforts. [Read More]