The octopus nervous system is very different in size and organization in comparison to that of other molluscs, and it contains more than 6 times the number of neurons in a mouse brain. Coleoid cephalopods like the octopus show extraordinarily sophisticated behaviours including complex problem solving, task-dependent conditional discrimination, observational learning and spectacular displays of…
Category: Species cards (GE)
Social Amoeba
Dictyostelium discoideum, the social amoeba, is a soil-dwelling unicellular protist which forms fruiting bodies made of many cells that aggregate under starvation. Its genome has a very high AT percentage and can help us learn about the evolution of amoebae and how multicellularity happens. Authors: Lucas Bartolomé Grosso, Joan Ortiz Badia, Marc Pedra Vilalta
Corn plant
Maize cobs typically have an even number of rows — it’s a cool quirk of plant biology—. Regardless of the variety, kernels rows follow a predictable pattern, with most types having between 8 and 20 rows. This happens because of the way maize develops, ensuring the total number of rows is almost always an even…
Western gorilla
Western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) is a species of primate in the family Hominidae (great apes). The reference sequence is from the fibroblast of a male and mature gorilla. The size of the genome is of 3500 Mb, the number of coding genes are 22365 and they have 24 chromosomes. The article where the genome of…
Zombie-ant fungus
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is valued in local traditions for its medicinal properties. It contains cordycepin, known for its anti-inflammatory and potential anticancer effects. Additionally, it supports kidney health and may help manage depression and diabetes. de Bekker, C., Ohm, R. A., Loreto, R. G., Sebastian, A., Albert, I., Merrow, M., Brachmann, A., & Hughes, D. P….
Yellow fever mosquito
Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito, is a vector for several viral diseases, including yellow fever. Its genome is approximately 1.38 Gb in size, with around 15,000 genes. This improved reference genome provides valuable insights into its biology and can inform strategies for controlling arbovirus transmission. Author: Manel Gómez García
Asian cultivated rice
Oryza sativa, the rice plant, is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide. Its genome sequencing aids in understanding rice genetics, evolution, and traits related to yield, quality, and stress tolerance. 10.1126/science.1068037 (Apr 5, 2002)
Common tobacco
Nicotiana tabacum, the cultivated tobacco, is a plant species cultivated for tobacco products. Its genome sequencing aids in understanding tobacco genetics, nicotine biosynthesis, and plant defense mechanisms. 10.1038/ncomms4833 (May 8, 2014)
Indian cobra
Naja naja, the Indian cobra, is a venomous snake species found in South Asia. Its genome sequencing aids in understanding venom composition and evolution, as well as developing antivenom treatments. 10.1038/s41588-019-0559-8 (Jan 6, 2020)
Arctic fox
Vulpes lagopus, the Arctic fox, is a small fox species adapted to cold environments. Its genome sequencing aids in understanding fox genetics, adaptation to Arctic climates, and evolution. 10.1111/1755-0998.13397 (Apr 21, 2021)