Biological Diversity is a new, open access, not-for-profit journal specializing in research that explores biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of resources. It integrates botanical, zoological, microbiological, taxonomic, phylogenetic, genomic, ecological, climatological, economic, and sociological disciplines. Wiley is the publisher.
Category: Literature
Avena longiglumis: a 3,961 Mb diploid oat genome sequence assembly
The study presents the chromosome-level genome assembly of Avena longiglumis, a diploid oat species. The assembly is high-quality, with 99% completeness and 40,845 annotated protein-coding genes. It provides insights into genome evolution, expansion, and structural variations, offering valuable information for oat breeding and functional genomics. Additionally, mitochondrial genome and comparative studies have been conducted.
Towards a banana pangenome: a new chromosome assembly in Musaceae
Our fascinating research on the diversity of genomes within the banana family in The genome assembly of Musa beccarii & evolution of banana family genomes: extensive chromosomal rearrangements & genome expansion by Zheng-Feng Wang, Mathieu Rouard @m_rouard, Gaetan Droc @GaetanDroc, Pat (J S) Heslop-Harrison @Pathh1, Xue-Jun Ge. GigaScience, Volume 12, 2023, giad005, https://doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giad005 @Gigascience 🍌🧬#GenomeAssembly…
Adaptive benefits of deleterious mutations in crops
A review and viewpoint research paper by Sangam L. Dwivedi, Pat Heslop-Harrison, Charles Spillane, Peter C. McKeown, David Edwards, Irwin Goldman and Rodomiro OrtizTrends in Plant Science, on-line first https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2023.01.006 and 2023 Deleterious mutations are genetic changes that negatively impact the function and fitness of an organism. Our new review paper highlights how some deleterious…
Chromosomal landscapes of Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs) integrated in the sheep nuclear genome
Sarbast Ihsan Mustafa, Trude Schwarzacher and John S. Heslop-Harrison The Nature and Chromosomal Landscape of Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs) Integrated in the Sheep Nuclear Genome. DNA 2022, 2(1), 86-103; Free full text: https://doi.org/10.3390/dna2010007 Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) represent genomic components of retroviral origin that are found integrated in the genomes of various species of vertebrates. These genomic…
Conservation, divergence and functions of centromeric satellite DNA families in the Bovidae
350. Escudeiro A, Adega F, Robinson TJ, Heslop-Harrison JS, Chaves R. 2019. Conservation, divergence, and functions of centromeric satellite DNA families in the Bovidae. Genome Biology and Evolution 11(4):1152–1165. doi:10.1093/gbe/evz061 https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evz061 (Open access) Repetitive satellite DNA (satDNA) sequences are abundant in eukaryote genomes, with a structural and functional role in centromeric function. We analysed the nucleotide…
The agriculture-nutrition-health nexus at the cost of water availability
332. Noorka IR, Taufiqullah, Heslop-Harrison JS, Schwarzacher T. 2017. The agriculture-nutrition-health nexus at the cost of water availability in maize diverse genotypes to ensure food security. International Journal of Water Resources and Arid Environments 6(2): 242-251, 2017 ISSN 2079-7079 publisher site: https://psipw.org/attachments/article/401/13e.pdf Originally published as: 2016. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Water Resources and the Arid Environments (ICWRAE…
Domestication, polyploidy and genomics of crops and weeds PAGXXV
Plant and Animal Genome Conference in San Diego #PAGXXV each January is the chance to join 3500 people working in genomics. I presented a talk on the molecular cytogenetics group’s work, starting with consideration of early stages of crop domestication, and then thinking about how we can make agriculture more sustainable. I also considered weeds,…
Introgression of chromosome segments from multiple alien species in wheat breeding lines with wheat streak mosaic virus resistance
324. Ali N, Heslop-Harrison JS, Ahmad H, Graybosch RA, Hein GL, Schwarzacher T. 2016. Introgression of chromosome segments from multiple alien species in wheat breeding lines with wheat streak mosaic virus resistance. Heredity (2016) 117, 114–123; published online 1 June 2016 doi:10.1038/hdy.2016.36 Author version: N_Ali_et al 2016 Multiple Alien Introgressions in Wheat Publisher site: http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/hdy201636a.pdf Pyramiding of…
Saffron crocus, cooking and Iran on the radio
The spice Saffron is valued worldwide for its flavor, aroma and color. I’ve just broadcast an interview with Robin Young produced by Jill Ryan for NPR’s Here and Now program which let me tell you something about my enjoyment of saffron both as a consumer and scientist. Saffron is unusual in that it is equally…
Preparation and fluorescent analysis of plant metaphase chromosomes
TS. Schwarzacher T. 2016. Preparation and fluorescent analysis of plant metaphase chromosomes. Chapter 7. In: Plant Cell Division: Methods and Protocols, ed Caillaud M-C; Methods in Molecular Biology 1370: 87-103. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3142-2_7. Humana Press, Springer, New York. Local Copy: Chromosome Preparation. Trude Schwarzacher. http://www.molcyt.com Good preparations are essential for informative analysis of both somatic and…
Intergeneric hybridisation between Berula erecta and Helosciadium nodiflorum (Apiaceae)
TS. Desjardins SD, Leslie AC, Stace CA, Schwarzacher T, Bailey JP. 2015. Intergeneric hybridisation between Berula erecta and Helosciadium nodiflorum (Apiaceae). Taxon 64: 784-794. DOI: 10.12705/644.9 Publisher link££ Author version Intergeneric hybridisation A hybrid between Berula erecta and Helosciadium nodiflorum is reported from Chippenham Fen National Nature Reserve (NNR), Cambridgeshire, England. Parentage was investigated using chromosome counts, a maternally-inherited chloroplast marker…
Agriculture and Climate Change in Southeast Asia and the Middle East: Breeding, Climate Change Adaptation, Agronomy, and Water Security
313. Noorka IR, Heslop-Harrison JS 2014. Agriculture and Climate Change in Southeast Asia and the Middle East: Breeding, Climate Change Adaptation, Agronomy, and Water Security. In: Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation, Ed Leal Filho W. 1-8. Springer Berlin Heidelberg http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40455-9_74-1 Link to NoorkaHeslopHarrisonBreedingClimateChangeAuthorVersion with colour figures. Link to typeset first page of publication. The agriculture of Southeast Asia and the Middle East…
Diversity and characters in Ethiopian linseed Linum #PAGXXIII Negash Worku
Many people have talked about Orphan crops – those where there has been little genetic or other research – and the characterization, evaluation and exploitation of germplasm at the #PAGXXIII Plant and Animal Genome Conference this week. Today, I am talking about work by Negash Worku on the Diversity and Characters in Ethiopian Linseed Accessions….
Transposable Elements in the Musa and Banana Genome: PAGXXIII conference talk
There has been a lot of talk about transposable elements during the Plant and Animal Genome #PAGXXIII meeting this week. As half or more – often 75% – of all the DNA in a plant or animal genome is typically made of class I retrotransposons and class II DNA transposons, this widespread interest is right!…
Molecular cytogenetics, genome evolution and agricultural genomics 