genomics Archives

The two major field sites: Eldfell, a decade-old eruption site on the island of Heimaey, and Fimmvörðuháls, a region between glaciers with access to both very recent and much older lava fields. At each major site, triplicate samples were taken at each point in a 1 m triangle; this pattern was repeated at 2–3 locations 10 m apart, and then that nested pattern was repeated 2–3 times at locations 100 m apart. -- Astrobiology via PubMed

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Correlations Between Life-Detection Techniques and Implications for Sampling Site Selection in Planetary Analog Missions

by Keith CowingDecember 20, 2023December 20, 2023

We conducted an analog sampling expedition under simulated mission constraints to areas dominated by basaltic tephra of the Eldfell and Fimmvörðuháls lava fields (Iceland).

a Overall structure of E.coli RNA polymerase EC. αI, αII, β′, β and ω subunit of RNAP were colored in green, cyan, gray, yellow, and red, respectively. RNA, template strand DNA (TS), non-template strand DNA (NTS) are shown in red, blue and dark green, respectively. b Model and map of three unnatural base pairs; dB:STP, dB:UTP and dS:BTP are shown with Cryo-EM density maps. c Active site of three UBP EC structures. Bridge helix (BH) is colored in green. UBP in +1 position were colored yellow. Other parts of the structures are colored white. The nitrogen, oxygen, phosphate, and carbon atoms of the base pair at i + 1 position are colored in blue, red, orange, and yellow, respectively. -- Nature Communications

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Expanding The Natural Genetic Code – Implications For SynBio And Origin Of Life?

by Keith CowingDecember 19, 2023January 10, 2026

Editor’s note: The genetic code of all life (with a few minor exceptions) on our home world is based on a genomic code consisting of 4 standard nucleotides. It is […]

A seafloor vent called a "white smoker" spews mineral-rich water into the ocean and serves as an energy hub for living creatures. Some scientists think life on Earth may have begun around similar vents on the ocean floor billions of years ago. Credit: NOAA/C. German (WHOI)

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Simulating Early Ocean Vents Shows Life’s Building Blocks Form Under Pressure

by Keith CowingDecember 15, 2023December 15, 2023

By mimicking rocky seafloor chimneys in the lab, scientists have produced new evidence that these features could have provided the right ingredients to kick-start life.

Like adding new letters to an existing language’s alphabet to expand its vocabulary, adding new synthetic nucleotides to the genetic alphabet could expand the possibilities of synthetic biology. This image shows a rendering of RNA polymerase (center) and a synthetic nucleotide (lower right). CREDIT UC San Diego Health Sciences

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Enzymes Can’t Tell Artificial DNA From The Real Thing

by Keith CowingDecember 15, 2023December 15, 2023

The genetic alphabet contains just four letters, referring to the four nucleotides, the biochemical building blocks that comprise all DNA.

The effects of a four-day RPM exposure on the human squamous non-small-cell lung cancer cell line CRL-5889 according to Dietz and co-workers [196] (A–D). (A) The RPM exposure leads to partial detachment of cells from the bottom of the flask and after 24 h to first aggregations (spheroid formation) that further increase after 96 h. (D, black arrow). However, one part of the cells remains attached to the bottom of the bottle (D, adherent cells (AD), white arrow). These AD cells exhibit an upregulation of the PTEN, RB1, TP53, CDKN2A, and SOX2 gene expression, whose protein-to-protein interactions were shown by STRING analysis (B). In contrast under 1g on 2D cell culture plate the cells stay in a state of near confluence (C). These results are published in [196]. -- Life

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Gravitational Biology, Microgravity, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations, Status Report

Current Knowledge About The Impact Of Microgravity On Gene Regulation

by Keith CowingDecember 11, 2023December 11, 2023

Microgravity (µg) has a massive impact on the health of space explorers. Microgravity changes the proliferation, differentiation, and growth of cells.

Cell-free Protein Synthesis Aboard ISS -- biorxiv.org

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microgravity, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Validation Of Cell-free Protein Synthesis Aboard The International Space Station

by Keith CowingDecember 9, 2023December 9, 2023

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a rapidly maturing in vitro gene expression platform that can be used to transcribe and translate nucleic acids at the point of need, enabling on-demand […]

A central insight was to model the gene history using information from related species. The modelling demonstrated that the palindromes of microRNA genes are generated by single mutation events. CREDIT Ari Löytynoja

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

New Genes Can Arise From Nothing

by Keith CowingDecember 8, 2023December 8, 2023

The complexity of living organisms is encoded within their genes, but where do these genes come from? Researchers at the University of Helsinki resolved outstanding questions around the origin of […]

EOD exposure from electric eel to zebrafish larvae. (A) This illustration depicts the experimental tank used to expose the recipient organism to the electric eel’s electric organ discharge (EOD). Within the tank, three carbon rod electrodes are placed: two inputs (colored black and red) and a ground electrode (colored green). (B) An EOD is induced by the electric eel during its predatory behavior when it feeds on a goldfish. The cuvette containing zebrafish larvae and a DNA solution is positioned in close proximity to the high-voltage pulses generated by the electric eel. The magenta curve illustrates the electric field produced by the electric eel. (C) This illustration indicates the construction of the GFP expression plasmid driven by the Oryzias latipes actb promoter. (D) The photograph displays 7-day post-fertilization (dpf) Danio rerio (zebrafish) larvae that were subjected to microinjection with the indicator plasmid at the one-to-eight cell stages. The plasmid has resulted in robust and widespread GFP fluorescence without apparent developmental abnormalities. Scale bar, 500 µm. (E) An example of a single predatory behavior with the EOD pulses lasting 30 s is shown. The electric eel first bites and swallows the goldfish (indicated by the magenta arrow, 1st bite), followed by another bite at an empty clip (indicated by the blue arrow, 2nd bite). -- Nagoya University

Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Press Release

Electricity From Electric Eels May Transfer Genetic Material To Nearby Animals

by Keith CowingDecember 6, 2023December 6, 2023

Editor’s note: as is stated in this press release, electroporation is a well-known way to deliver genetic information into a cell – in the laboratory. The fact that this happens […]

Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations

SOAD And Spaceomix To Pioneer DNA Sequencing Beyond Low Earth Orbit

by Keith CowingDecember 6, 2023December 6, 2023

In an unprecedented collaboration, the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) and Spaceomix have inked a groundbreaking partnership poised to transcend boundaries of scientific exploration.

ΨThe orientation of all the genes in the entire cluster flipped for aligning with the other genomes. Each arrow represents a different location on a single complete scaffold; adjacent arrows do not indicate their order on the genome; genes within an arrow are contiguous. ¶Pseudogene; red diamond and red rectangle represent gene(s) absent in the corresponding genome/location; arrows within dashed red boxes are contiguous; HP: hypothetical protein; RNP1: ribonuclease P protein component 1; ORF: open reading frame/gene; #ORF(s) annotated as HP(s); Hsp20: heat shock protein 20; ßpartial gene. -- Archaea

Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

Connections Between Archaea And Eukarya

by Keith CowingDecember 6, 2023December 6, 2023

NASA-supported researchers have examined the order and organization of genes that code for ribosomal protein in a group of archaea known as Asgard. The study is helping scientists better understand […]