Staphylococcus aureus

The name Staphylococcus originates from Greek terms (staphyle and kokkos) which literally translate as a bunch of grapes. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jb.187.7.2426-2438.2005 Authors: Julia Bächtold Agustí, Silvia Delgado Blanco, Ainhoa Pellejero Valle

Atlantic puffin

Fratercula arctica, the atlantic puffin, is an iconic seabird species, important for tourism, and inherently valuable for the marine ecosystem. Its genome includes thousands of loci that help identify relevant conservation units for seabirds. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02415-4 (July/29/2021) Authors: Aina Baldomà Fort, Javier Cordero Plaza, Maria Donés Guillamet, Julia Íñiguez Sanz

Bactrian camel

Camelus bactrianus, the Bactrian camel, has two humps where they can store energy in the form of fat, allowing them to survive long periods without food or water. Its genome also reveals genes with resistance insulin functions. https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2192 (November/13/2012) Authors: Júlia Bou Vallès, Laia Xin Mercadé Pelfort, Ivett Moro Rodríguez, Paula Valero Delgado

Opium poppy

Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy, is a medicinal and ornamental plant known for producing pharmacologically important benzylisoquinoline alkaloids such as morphine and codeine. Its poppy seeds are used for culinary applications as breads and cakes. This is because the alkaloids are mainly concentrated in the latex of the immature capsule, while mature seeds contain negligible…

Whale shark

The whale shark, is the largest fish in the world. Its genome presents long neuron-related genes as some other long-lived organisms. 10.1186/s12864-017-3926-9 Author: Tomas González Dantas

Urinary blood fluke

Urinary schistosomiasis has afflicted humans for over 5,000 years. Ancient Egyptian papyri record “bloody urine” (parasite eggs were found in mummies dating to 1250–1000 BC) and in 1798 Napoleon’s soldiers dubbed Egypt “the land of menstruating men” due to widespread haematuria. 10.1038/ng.1065 Author: Oscar Gonzalo Figueredo

Beet

Beta vulgaris, the beet, is cultivated for its colorful, fleshy roots and nutritious leaves rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Its genome is diploid and encodes genes important for sugar production, making it a vital crop in temperate regions worldwide. J. C., Minoche, A. E., Holtgräwe, D., Capella-Gutiérrez, S., Zakrzewski, F., Tafer, H., Rupp, O.,…

Atlantic horseshoe crab

Limulus polyphemus, the Atlantic horseshoe crab, is a marine arthropod considered a “living fossil” extending back approximately 450 million years. The blood color is blue due to the presence of hemocyanin and contains amoebocytes, used to detect toxins. Its genome presents specific duplications of  genes related to innate immunity. https://doi.org/10.1186/2047-217X-3-9, 05/14/2014 Author: Guillem Dachs Margarit

Myxococcus xanthus

Myxococcus xanthus is a social eubacterial predator that exhibits various forms of self-organizing behavior in response to environmental cues. Its genome offers unparalleled access to a regulatory network that controls development and that organizes cell movement on surfaces. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0607335103 (December/19/2006) Author: Carolina Doñate Alarcón

S. solfataricus

Saccharolobus solfataricus is an archaeal species that thrives in volcanic environments with high temperatures and acidity. It serves as a model organism for studying DNA replication, the cell cycle, chromosomal integration, transcription, RNA processing, and translation. 10.1073/pnas.141222098 (Jun 26, 2001) Author: Mar Iglesias Navarrete