This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38057741
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ginkgo 'living fossil' genome decoded | Ginkgo 'living fossil' genome decoded |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| The Ginkgo tree has had its genetic code laid bare by researchers. | The Ginkgo tree has had its genetic code laid bare by researchers. |
| The tree is famed for being a “living fossil” - a term used to describe those organisms that have experienced very little change over millions of years. | The tree is famed for being a “living fossil” - a term used to describe those organisms that have experienced very little change over millions of years. |
| In the case of the species Ginkgo biloba, there are specimens preserved in the rock record from 270 million years ago, in the Permian Period. | In the case of the species Ginkgo biloba, there are specimens preserved in the rock record from 270 million years ago, in the Permian Period. |
| The Chinese-led research team says the new information should help to explain the tree’s evolutionary success. | The Chinese-led research team says the new information should help to explain the tree’s evolutionary success. |
| Its resilience is legendary: it was one of the few living things to survive the atomic bomb blast in the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945. | Its resilience is legendary: it was one of the few living things to survive the atomic bomb blast in the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945. |
| A Ginkgo is known to produce chemicals that are unpalatable to the insects that try to eat it, and will counter the fungi and bacteria that attempt to attack it. | A Ginkgo is known to produce chemicals that are unpalatable to the insects that try to eat it, and will counter the fungi and bacteria that attempt to attack it. |
| Researchers can now more easily identify the mechanisms that drive these capabilities. | Researchers can now more easily identify the mechanisms that drive these capabilities. |
| The Ginkgo’s genome is huge, comprising some 10.6 billion DNA "letters". | The Ginkgo’s genome is huge, comprising some 10.6 billion DNA "letters". |
| By way of comparison, the human genome contains just three billion letters. | |
| Written in the Ginkgo’s DNA code are roughly 41,840 predicted genes, the “templates” that the tree’s cells use to make the complex protein molecules that build and maintain the organism. | Written in the Ginkgo’s DNA code are roughly 41,840 predicted genes, the “templates” that the tree’s cells use to make the complex protein molecules that build and maintain the organism. |
| The initial analysis of the genome, published in the journal GigaScience, suggests there has been extensive expansion through time of gene families that provide for a variety of defensive mechanisms. | The initial analysis of the genome, published in the journal GigaScience, suggests there has been extensive expansion through time of gene families that provide for a variety of defensive mechanisms. |
| Its anti-insect arsenal is particularly smart. The Ginkgo will synthesise one set of chemicals to directly fight a pest, but also release another set of compounds that specifically attract the insect’s enemies. | Its anti-insect arsenal is particularly smart. The Ginkgo will synthesise one set of chemicals to directly fight a pest, but also release another set of compounds that specifically attract the insect’s enemies. |