Single-molecule sequencing technology assists microbial DNA methylation study. The Science Researchers sequenced 230 diverse archaeal and bacterial genomes to learn more about the roles DNA methylation plays in prokaryotes. The Impact The epigenome of a cell is the collected set of changes made to specific bases in its genomic DNA that affect how the genome…
A window into fungal endophytism
Comparative genomics highlight genes that may determine fungal lifestyles. The Science Researchers sequenced a fungal endophyte of rubber trees and compared its genome to 36 other fungi, focusing on genes that are crucial to host-fungus interactions. The Impact Endophytes reside within living plant cells and can play roles not just in plant health but also…
Proving the Genetic Code’s Flexibility
Researchers show deviations in an amino acid’s code can occur naturally. Four letters – A, C, G and T – stand in for the four chemical bases that store information in DNA. A sequence of these same four letters, repeating in a particular order, genetically defines an organism. Within the genome sequence are shorter, three-letter…
Multiple methods for microbial diversity in one lake
Nine-year study tracks how distinct microbial communities evolve in freshwater lakes. The Science Researchers sequenced, assembled and analyzed bacterial genomes from a nine-year study tracking the evolution of microbial communities in a Wisconsin freshwater lake. The Impact Competing models have been put forward to answer the fundamental question of how microbes evolve, but it remains…
JGI Director to Step Down to Assume Scientific Helm of Startup
After 14 years guiding the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) from completing DOE’s contributions to the Human Genome Project to transitioning the Institute into a National User Facility enabling the science of thousands of researchers focused on energy and environmental problems, DOE JGI Director Eddy Rubin announced today that he will be…
Harnessing Farm Animal Fungi for Fuel – in Forbes
“[O]ne of the by-products of this biochemical attack is poop, and that poop is full of the fungi and hundreds of their special enzymes. So literally, the scientists harvested this fungi from goat poop…. But isolating these enzymes and mapping their blueprints in DNA and RNA is not easy. In fact, it required the rare…
Biofuel Tech Straight from the Farm
Research team taps EMSL, DOE JGI to harness promising fungi found in manure. Nature’s figured it out already, how to best break down food into fuel. Now scientists have caught up, showing that fungi found in the guts of goats, horses and sheep could help fill up your gas tank too. The researchers report in…
Strategy to Uncover More Microbial Lineages
Biases in current sequencing technologies hide true breadth of microbial diversity. The Science DOE JGI researchers employed datasets from the Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) system to determine how many microbial lineages might be missed from available sequences in existing datasets due to mismatches with currently used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) primers. PCR is a technology…
Tracking Microbial Mat Formation in Yellowstone
Assessing real-time contributions of microbial communities toward mat formation. The Science Researchers determined the contributions of different microbes toward the establishment of microbial mat communities in the hot and acidic environments of the Yellowstone Hot Springs. The Impact Microbial mats serve as model systems for studying microbial interactions and their influence over biogeochemical processes. Understanding…
JGI Interns at UC Merced Earn CAMP Merit Awards
As part of the ongoing partnership between DOE JGI and UC Merced to promote diversity and inclusion in science and research, two undergraduate students from UC Merced recently had summer internships in Walnut Creek.