Subscribe
In a demonstration of “reverse-ecology,” UC Berkeley biologists have shown that one can determine an organism’s adaptive traits by looking first at its genome and checking for variations across a population. The study offers a powerful new tool in evolutionary genetics research, one that could be used to help monitor the effects of climate change and habitat destruction.
Tag: genomics
Diet may treat some diseases due to genetic mutations
April 10, 2012:
Some genetic diseases, such as homocystinuria, are caused by a variety of genetic mutations, some causing worse symptoms than others. Jasper Rine and colleagues in QB3 have shown how to identify those mutations whose effects can be ameliorated by vitamin supplementation, which could help doctors tailor treatment to the individual patient.
Argentine ant genome sheds light on how to be a successful pest
January 31, 2011:
A research team led by scientists at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University has unlocked the genetic code of the highly invasive Argentine ant, providing clues as to why this species has been so successful.
