New genetic research shows humans’ famed ability to adapt our behaviour and develop new tools and techniques has not always been enough to survive when times have grown tough.
Existing genetic data and sequencing tools are overwhelmingly based on people of European ancestry, which excludes much of the rich genetic variation of the world.
From discovering hidden populations of vulnerable newts to dropping “seed bombs”, two new research papers show how genomics and drones help restore threatened ecosystems.
The numbat is one of the Tasmanian tiger’s closest surviving relatives. And its newly sequenced genome raises the possibility of piecing together the genetic code of its extinct fellow marsupial.
Record-breaking technology can sequence an entire human genome in a matter of hours. The work could be a lifeline for people suffering from the more than 5,000 known rare genetic diseases.
Researchers have sequenced the genome of the waratah, using a plant that was burned in the Black Summer fires but has since resprouted, offering an emblem of hope for future conservation.
Technological advancements in food production have created new ways to meet the growing demand for protein. Canada’s investment in this industry may create jobs and reduce carbon emissions.
A billion-year-old ‘hydrogen economy’ in the frozen soil of Antarctica provides bacteria with energy, water, and the carbon that makes up their bodies.
Sardines from the cold waters off South Africa’s Atlantic coast are attracted to cold water upwelling in the Indian Ocean. When the upwelling ends, they are trapped in water that is too warm for them.
Apple breeders have created crisp, juicy and tasty fruits, but the limited varieties leave crops vulnerable to diseases, pests and climate change. Introducing new traits could improve crop resilience.