[PNAS] The evolutionary selection of thymine over uracil in DNA presents a paradox from a photostability perspective, since thymine is found to be more susceptible to photodamage from the intense […]
DNA
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics
Compatible Comma-Free Codes and the Origin of the Genetic Code
[biorxiv.org] The genetic code is the rule that (apart from minor modifications [1, 2]) is used by all contemporary life on Earth to translate genes into proteins. It is summarized […]
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics
Global Genome Atlas Reveals Hidden Life In Lakes
[University of Zurich] A single drop of lake water teems with life too small to see: microscopic algae and tiny single-celled organisms such as amoebae. Like our own cells, theirs […]
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics
Generating Eukaryotic Reference Genome Assemblies: Earth BioGenome Project Quality Standards And Recommendations
[q-bio.GN] Reference genome assemblies are foundational resources across the biological sciences as they begin to expose the fundamental building blocks of each species and the molecular toolkits vital for adaptation […]
![Visual abstract -- [Journal of the American Chemical Society]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Nonequilibrium.jpg?resize=1200%2C716&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry
Nonequilibrium Formation of Pyridine (C5H5N) in Interstellar Ice Analogs: Implications for Biorelevant Nitrogen Heterocycles in Ryugu and Bennu
[Journal of the American Chemical Society] Biorelevant nitrogen heterocycles, including the five canonical nucleobases found in RNA and DNA, have recently been identified in samples returned from the carbonaceous asteroids […]
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics
Ancient Genome Function Persists Despite Frequent Mutations
[Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf] Centromeres are crucial for cell division and emerged early in evolution. A research team led by Heinrich Heine University (HHU) Düsseldorf and the Max Planck Institute for […]
Posted inOrigin & Evolution of Life
Computational Modeling Of An RNA-peptide World
[biorxiv.org] Emergence and evolution of functional RNA and protein structures are the central problems for understanding the origin of life.
![Overview of the PlainMap mapping workflow. PlainMap processes heterogeneous FASTQ input through header-based pairing inference, pilot subsampling and deterministic chunking, fastp preprocessing, mode-specific mapping, BAM processing, and summary-statistic generation. Optional outputs include mapDamage analyses and FASTQ files containing unmapped reads. -- [q-bio.GN]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PlainMap.png?resize=1200%2C719&ssl=1)
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics
PlainMap: A Lightweight, Restartable Mapping Pipeline For Ancient And Modern DNA
[q-bio.GN] Mapping sequencing reads to a reference genome requires preprocessing and alignment choices that can vary with library type, fragment length, sequencing platform, and reference genome.
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics
An Integrated Culturomic And Genomic Database And Analysis Platform For Methanogenic Archaea
[Database] Methanogenic archaea research is challenged by limited strain resources, fragmented genomic data, inconsistent genome quality, substantial uncultured lineages, and difficulties in laboratory culturing, hindering advances in biogas production, climate […]
Posted inOrigin & Evolution of Life
RNA Droplets May Have Helped Start life on Earth
[University at Buffalo] It’s one of the origins of life’s chicken-or-the-egg problems: How could RNA have helped give rise to the first cells before there were cells to contain them?