DNA – Page 54 – Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog

June 19, 2013June 19, 2013

Dog domestication controversy growls away

Awesome, by @ewencallaway RT @mammuthus: Nice summary of recent research into dog evolution http://t.co/sZ92QM5wt4 (h/t @paleogenomics)

— Ed Yong is not here (@edyong209) June 18, 2013

Scientists investigating the transformation of wolves into dogs are behaving a bit like the animals they study, as disputes roil among those using genetics to understand dog domestication.

Sound familiar? Remember the chicken story? It’s a genomic jungle out there.

LATER: A jungle that goes way back.

June 17, 2013June 17, 2013

Brainfood: Maize rhizosphere, Climate change vulnerability, Heterosis squared, African forests, Sequencing genebanks

Diversity and heritability of the maize rhizosphere microbiome under field conditions. There’s a lot of it, but only measured in inbreds so far. One wonders about landraces.
The Vulnerability of Biodiversity to Rapid Climate Change. We should focus on increasing the adaptive capacity of species and ecosystems, but predictions are difficult, especially about the future.
The Capsella rubella genome and the genomic consequences of rapid mating system evolution. Sex is better with two.
Progress Toward Understanding Heterosis in Crop Plants & Genomic and epigenetic insights into the molecular bases of heterosis. It’s the allelic interactions, stupid. Now to make use of this.
Deforestation in an African biodiversity hotspot: Extent, variation and the effectiveness of protected areas. Protected areas have worked for the evergreen forest, but don’t forget the miombo! Would be intersting to know what this all means for crop wild relatives.
Comprehensive genotyping of the USA national maize inbred seed bank. Ladies and gentlemen, I have seen the future of genebanks.

June 5, 2013June 5, 2013

Nibbles: Hot peppers, Job, Hippy scientist, Seed law considered, Old seed, Rice and recovery

Will the world ever tire of hot pepper stories?
Would you like to work at the Millennium Seed Bank?
The Guardian hymns Howard-Yana Shapiro, the “vegan hippy scientist” who wants to open orphan crop genomes.
Patrick links to Arche Noah’s response to the new EU seed laws.
Laws that don’t bother Gene Logsdon, planter of old seed.
IRRI claims that rice seed aids Bangladesh’s cyclone recovery, but frankly, I can barely read it.

May 31, 2013May 31, 2013

Nibbles: New genebank, Modelling change, Non-GMO tomato, Greenhouse gases, Fruit diversity, Chickpea genomes

The Australians have turned the sod on a new genebank. Can’t have too many genebanks.
Climate change model reveals the differences between coffee and mango. Can’t have too many models. Or mangoes.
GMO tomato that is not GMO and is purple could result in healthier, cheaper tomatoes. Can’t have too much confusion.
Fantastically interesting infographic on where greenhouse gases come from. Can’t have too many good infographics.
Among which I include Pop Chart Lab’s new taxonomic poster of The Various Varieties of Fruits. Fruit is good for you. And tomato is not a fruit
A late addition: chickpea genome sequenced — twice. Can’t have too many chickpea genomes, as Nigel Chaffey explains.

May 27, 2013May 26, 2013

Nibbles: Kenyan water, Peruvian diets, Kazakh horse meat, Orchard diversity, Rubus ID, Baltimore

Kenya goes gung-ho for agrobiodiversity to make better use of scarce water.
Peru enacts Law for the Promotion of Healthy Eating by Boys, Girls, and Adolescents to a mixed reception.
Sent to Kazakhstan, a food writer thrills to dietary diversity in Almaty (without once mentioning apples).
Holistic orchard conversion. “Turning an orchard from a lawn with fruit & nut trees in it into a purpose-built meadow with fruit & nut trees in it.”
“Preservation of cultivar purity is a particular challenge for plants that are self-incompatible, and have easily germinating seeds and vigorously spreading rhizomes.” Amen.
You’ve seen The Wire? Now read about The Duncan Street Miracle Garden.