Indian genome sequences: 32 variations found unique

Results from the extensive computation analysis of 1,029 sequenced genomes from India were published earlier this week

Why it took 20 years to ‘finish’ the human genome — and why there’s still more to do

The newly updated sequence fills in most of the remaining gaps, providing the full 3.055 billion base pairs of our DNA code in its entirety

Major new study unveils complexity and vast diversity of Africa’s genetic variation

More than three million new genetic variants discovered, details of migration and expansion of groups across the continent found

‘An individual’s genome carries information shaped over millenia of evolutionary history’

Down To Earth spoke with Aryn P Wilder, co-author of one of 11 research papers providing insights into mammalian evolution

Scientists map black swan genome to better understand immune response

Black swans are highly susceptible to the bird flu virus and the scientists hope to uncover clues to prevent the next pandemic

Scientists unravel fungus responsible for Sheath Blight disease in rice

Researchers have identified several genes and gene families in the strain that might account for their disease aggressiveness

Omicron threat: India’s COVID-19 genome sequencing a measly 0.2%

Maharashtra and Kerala — with the highest active caseload in the country — account for the highest number of genome samples …

Scientists unveil the genome of India’s national bird

The analysis reveals 99 genes that are unique to peacocks and could be responsible for peacock’s feathers and its long life span  

How COVID-19 transformed genomics and changed the handling of disease outbreaks forever

Genome sequencing has potential to diagnose rare genetic disorders, inform personalised medicine, and monitor the ever-increasing threat of drug …

New study may help address drug resistant pneumococcal diseases

Indian researchers have identified three drug target sites in the genome of Streptococcus pneumoniae, paving the way for developing …

Uncovering the genetic basis of mental illness requires data and tools that aren’t just based on white people

Genomic sequencing can provide personalised treatment to the mentally ill only if genetic variations of all ancestries are represented in …

Indian researchers work on novel coronavirus genome sequencing

Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology, Hyderabad and Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology, New Delhi working together

Results from Novavax vaccine trials in the UK and South Africa differ: why, and does it matter?

The efficacy of the vaccine was 89 per cent in United Kingdom and 60 per cent in South Africa

What is Omisure, India’s first RT-PCR kit that identifies omicron in under 4 hours

This kit can identify omicron by targeting two regions of the spike gene, which bears heavy mutations  

One year since we first reported on this coronavirus — what we’ve learned and still need to know

We must identify the origin of SARS-CoV-2 to prevent the continued spill-over of similar viruses into humans

Here come the gene hackers

Interventions to make heritable changes to the human genome are fraught with uncertainties. There are legitimate concerns about using a still …

What makes humans unique? Scientists compare genomes of 240 species to uncover secrets of mammalian evolution

Mammals diversified when continental landmasses began drifting apart, notes study

COVID-19 update: Deltacron & omicron subvariant — 2 looming threats?

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the United States, countries in Europe and Southeast Asia

COVID-19 update: Why did UK call BA.2 a ‘variant under investigation’?

At least 40 countries have detected this omicron sub-lineage since November 17, 2021    

Are all nations doing enough on SARS-CoV-2 sequencing? Clearly not

India has submitted only 20 genome sequences as compared to UK’s 93,544 since new variant surfaced

Audit COVID-19 death from oxygen shortage: Parliamentary panel to health ministry

The report also advised expanding the genome sequencing machinery in the country & conducting studies on COVID-19 origins

Genomic sequencing: Here’s how researchers identify omicron and other COVID-19 variants

When an organism replicates, it makes a copy of its entire genome to pass on to its offspring. Sometimes errors in the copying process can lead …

COVID-19: INSACOG shares genome sequencing data after a gap of 3 months 

India sequenced 89,860 samples between January and April, according to the latest bulletin. The total is now 240,570 sequenced samples  

COVID-19: How worried should we be about the new AY.4.2 lineage of the coronavirus?

There are now 75 AY lineages identified, each with different additional defining mutations in their genome. AY.4 has accounted for 63% of …

Scientists identify new route to tackle TB

Researchers analysed the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and identified three G-quadruplex motifs that could be used as drug targets