First pig infected with H5N1 bird flu recorded in the US – POLITICO

First pig infected with H5N1 bird flu recorded in the US – POLITICO

U.S. officials sequenced the genome of the virus found in poultry on the farm in Oregon and did not identify any changes to the virus that indicate it’s more transmissible to humans. The risk to the public remains low, they said on Wednesday. The livestock shared water sources, housing and equipment with infected poultry on … Read more

Underwater gardeners work to restore B.C.’s crucial kelp forests

Underwater gardeners work to restore B.C.’s crucial kelp forests

In the chilly waters of Vancouver Island’s Barkley Sound, gardeners are at work on the sea floor. They are scientists from the University of Victoria (UVic) who are trying to regrow kelp forests, a crucial part of the marine habitat, amid threats from heat waves, climate change and voracious sea urchins. Julia Baum, a UVic … Read more

Scientists are on a quest for drought-resistant wheat, agriculture’s ‘Holy Grail’

Scientists are on a quest for drought-resistant wheat, agriculture’s ‘Holy Grail’

Plant biologist Marcus Samuel has been working for more than a decade to improve the climate resilience of crops. At his research greenhouse at the University of Calgary, he uses cutting-edge gene editing techniques to produce hardier varieties of plants able to withstand temperature fluctuations, floods and frosts. But while he has worked on canola, … Read more

Scientists find the largest known genome inside a small plant

Scientists find the largest known genome inside a small plant

Last year, Jaume Pellicer led a team of fellow scientists into a forest on Grande Terre, an island east of Australia. They were in search of a fern called Tmesipteris oblanceolata. Standing just a few inches tall, it was not easy to find on the forest floor. “It doesn’t catch the eye,” said Pellicer, who … Read more

Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood Boosts Stake in Firms Making Breakthroughs in Gene Editing, AI Drug Development, and Obesity Drugs

Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood Boosts Stake in Firms Making Breakthroughs in Gene Editing, AI Drug Development, and Obesity Drugs

Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood shot to fame when all the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) managed by her investment management firm jumped by over 100% each in 2020 compared to the S&P 500’s mere 16% returns. Wood is known for her singular investing approach and bets on disruptive, high-growth firms, including generative AI, genome development, autonomous … Read more

Genome study reveals prehistoric Ethiopian origins of coffee

Genome study reveals prehistoric Ethiopian origins of coffee

WASHINGTON: You might call it a cup of Joe, java, mud, brew, mocha, or your morning jolt. Coffee undoubtedly is a big part of global culture, and the kind made from the Arabica bean is the most appreciated by coffee drinkers. Researchers now have unlocked the genome of the Arabica species and traced its origins … Read more

Who’s to blame for contaminated shellfish? Researchers follow the fecal matter to find out

Who’s to blame for contaminated shellfish? Researchers follow the fecal matter to find out

For the shellfish industry, high fecal counts detected in areas where shellfish such as oysters are harvested can mean long — and costly — closures. The fecal matter is associated with human-borne viruses, like norovirus, but the tests that are typically used to measure the fecal matter don’t distinguish between different types of animals, including … Read more