The hollyhock plant, a favorite in gardens worldwide, has had its genetic blueprint mapped out in stunning detail. Scientists have put together a complete set of instructions for this plant, known as its genome, which is about 1. 01 billion pieces of information long. This is like having a very detailed map of a big city, where each street and landmark is clearly mar...

Genome sequencing has made huge leaps forward. Now, some methods can map out chromosomes from end to end. However, these advanced techniques often need a lot of data from different sources. This can make the process expensive and time-consuming. The good news is that researchers are finding ways to cut costs. They are looking at using less data and focusing on just o...

In the world of tough parasites, Teladorsagia circumcincta stands out. It is a real pain for sheep and goats in temperate climates all over the world. This nematode worm is notorious for developing resistance to drugs pretty quickly. To get a handle on its resistance, scientists recently created a highly detailed map of the nematode's genome. They used a mix of advan...

Cnidarians fascinate scientists. That’s because these creatures—including sea anemones, corals, and jellyfish—offer valuable insights into the evolution of life. Cnidarians have a lot in common with bilaterians—the animals with mirror-image left and right sides. They diverged from other animals hundreds of millions of years ago. These creatures are intriguing becaus...