Largest elephant genome study reveals past and future The biggest genomic mapping of African elephants has revealed that a history of connectivity throughout the continent is increasingly in jeopardy.Researchers analysed 232 complete genomes from both sa...

Largest elephant genome study reveals past and future connectsci.au/news/news-pa...

Coevolutionary interactions between transposable elements and host silencing factors in genome gigantism of Caeliferans (Orthoptera) Genome gigantism in Caelifera is accompanied by a reduction in KRAB-ZFP host silencing factors, a slower loss of transposable elements (TEs), and maintained by TE–host silencing coevolution. While sm...

🦗🦗Coevolutionary interactions between transposable elements and host silencing factors in genome gigantism of Caeliferans (Orthoptera)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

New genome available!

The ERGA-BGE reference genome of the Azores Bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina) is now out, a chromosome-level resource for an IUCN Vulnerable species endemic to a single island in the Azores.

Read more: doi.org/10.12688/ope...
#ERGA #BGE #Genomics #Biodiversity #ReferenceGenomes

survival secrets of the koalas After the rather depressing outlook on AI safety (or lack thereof) I needed a bit of comfort and joy, so I jumped at the opportunity presented by a paper on the genomes of more than 400 cuddly koalas. They serve as the mascot for the feature on the subject of conservation genomics which also takes in other life forms such as sea snails, snow leopards, and lemurs. The resulting feature is out now: **Survival in their genomes** Current Biology Volume 36, Issue 7, 20 April 2026, Pages R299-R301 Restricted access to full text and PDF download (Unfortunately, this year's features will no longer become open access one year after publication - do contact me if you would like a PDF.) Magic link for free access (first seven weeks only) See also my new Mastodon thread where I will highlight all this year's CB features. My mastodon posts are also mirrored on Bluesky. Last year's thread is here . Although it is now widely adored as an icon of Australia, the koala has experienced severe population declines and is still in need of conservation attention, as a new study analysing hundreds of genomes confirms. (Photo: Mathias Appel/Flickr.)

the stars of this week's feature in #CurrentBiology are more than 400 cuddly #koalas! It's all about #conservation #genomics, also covering eg #SnowLeopards, #SeaSnails, #lemurs proseandpassion.blogspot.com/2026/04/survival-secrets...

#science #genome

GBE | Evolutionary Complexity of Primate Immune System Uncovered by the Extensive Phylogenomic Sampling

Zhang, Wu & Shao investigated the evolution of the primate immune system by generating the first comprehensive catalog of immune-related genes through extensive phylogenomic sampling.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/...

#genome #evolution #immunity

Chromosome-scale genome assembly of Naematelia sinensis (Jin Er mushroom) offers new insights into the distinct mating-type genomes feature and genome evolution https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42005847/

Pressure-tolerant Evolution in Rhodopsin of Deep-diving Whales Abstract. Life in the deep sea presents extreme challenges to protein structure and function, with hydrostatic pressure serving as a significant source of

Hayate Takeuchi and Takashi Hayakawa investigated rhodopsin structural evolution in deep-diving whales, showing that rhodopsins have evolved for both spectral sensitivity and structural resilience under extreme hydrostatic pressure.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/...

#genome #evolution

ERGA Plenary Meetings The ERGA Plenary Meetings are the main monthly gatherings of our community, when announcements are made and discussions and debates are conducted on topic-oriented presentations. The plenaries happen ...

Join us for the ERGA Plenary, today Monday, 20 April 2026, at 15:00 CEST.

Presentation of the Month:
María José Ruiz López : Mosquito genomics in southern Spain

Sign up so you don't miss out! www.erga-biodiversity.eu/post/erga-pl...

#biodiversity #genomics

Reminder: as well as sharing or finding #training materials, you can also find or post information about upcoming #courses, #workshops, and training events related to the production and/or use of reference #genomes at the ERGA KnowledgeHub knowledge.erga-biodiversity.eu?category=eve...

Helixer: ab initio prediction of primary eukaryotic gene models combining deep learning and a hidden Markov model - Nature Methods By leveraging both deep learning and hidden Markov models, Helixer achieves broad taxonomic coverage for ab initio gene annotation of eukaryotic genomes from fungi, plants, vertebrates and…

#ERGAReads | Helixer: ab initio prediction of primary eukaryotic gene models combining deep learning and a hidden Markov model 🧬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#GenomeAnnotation #Helixer @natmethods.nature.com

💡 #KnowledgeHighlight | Tutorial: #Pangenome Hackathon by @bioinfomics.bsky.social @inrae-france.bsky.social
pangenome-hackathon-genotoul-bioinfo-11d6d4f47ac33734abfa2a1377.pages-forge.inrae.fr/pages/tutori...

Explore more open-access training materials ➡️ knowledge.erga-biodiversity.eu

Close-up of a Patella rustica limpet shell with ridged texture on a rocky surface covered with barnacles

A new ERGA–Biodiversity Genomics Europe reference genome for the limpet Patella rustica provides a key resource to study how coastal species respond to global warming. #LIBresearch

© Faria R et al., CC BY 4.0

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Another new ERGA - European Reference Genome Atlas - Biodiversity Genomics Europe reference genome is available! ✨
Meet the eastern mosquito fish: Gambusia Holbrooki! 🐟

More information 👉 open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/6-48

A chromosome-scale genome for the honey badger doesn't yet exist. Only available genome is in 2,068,312 pieces. Honey badger don't care. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/datasets/gen... #2026MMM #RIP

Home k-mer learning materials. Contribute to KamilSJaron/k-mer-approaches-for-biodiversity-genomics development by creating an account on GitHub.

💡 #KnowledgeHighlight | Tutorials: k-mer Approaches for Biodiversity #Genomics by Kamil Jaron @sangerinstitute.bsky.social
github.com/KamilSJaron/...

Explore open-access training materials in the ERGA #KnowledgeHub ➡️ knowledge.erga-biodiversity.eu
#kmers #bioinformatics #learningmaterials

Connections - Discovering Biodiversity Genomics “Connections - Discovering Biodiversity Genomics” is a booklet that compiles a series of blog posts produced by the Biodiversity Genomics Europe project’s Capacity Pillar team throughout 2025. Each…

🇬🇧 Connections - Discovering Biodiversity Genomics
zenodo.org/records/1878...

#biodiversitygenomics #connections #barcoding #genomes #genomics

Conexões – Descobrindo a Genômica da Biodiversidade Conexões – Descobrindo a Genômica da Biodiversidade é um livreto que reúne uma série de publicações de blog produzidas pela equipe do  do projeto "Biodiversity Genomics Europe" ao longo de 2025.Cada…

🇵🇹 Conexões – Descobrindo a Genômica da Biodiversidade
zenodo.org/records/1878...

#genomica #comunicacaocientifica #biodiversidade #livreto #divulgacaocientifica

🇮🇹 Connessioni – Alla scoperta della genomica della biodiversità
zenodo.org/records/1878...

#biodiversità #Connessioni #genomica

Connections Booklet: Discovering Biodiversity Genomics What is biodiversity? And genomics? How are they related to each other in ways that help species monitoring and conservation?Throughout 2025, the “ERGA – iBOL Europe Connections” blog post series…

📘 Did you have a chance to read our lasted @biogeneurope.bsky.social
booklet Connections – Discovering Biodiversity Genomics?
Explore how biodiversity and genomics come together to support species monitoring and conservation
👉 www.erga-biodiversity.eu/post/connect...
Available in 3 languages:

A bright collage of many different bee species arranged around colorful flowers against a black background. White daisies, pink blossoms, yellow flowers, and purple blooms frame bees of many shapes, sizes, and colors, including metallic blue-green, striped, fuzzy, and long-bodied species. In the center, large overlaid text reads: “WHY Sequence ALL Bee Genomes?” Pictured: Various native bee species some on flowers some hovering around the background.

Two striped bees hover beside a pink flower against a soft green blurred background. A dark translucent text box overlays the lower right portion of the image. The overlaid text reads: “Bees power pollination. Bees pollinate more than 75% of flowering plants and many crops humans rely on. Genomes help scientists understand the biology behind this essential ecosystem service.” Pictured: Blue-banded Bees 🍯🐝 a native bee in Australia capable of buzz pollination, a technique used to release pollen from flowers like tomatoes and eggplants 🐝🍅.

Close-up macro image of a metallic green bee perched on a small blue-purple flower against a softly blurred purple background. A dark translucent text box overlays the lower left portion of the image, and a white hand-drawn arrow points to the right. The overlaid text reads: “Most bee genomes remain unknown. There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide, yet only a small fraction have reference genomes. Sequencing bees helps fill major gaps in our understanding of insect evolution and biodiversity.” Pictured: The metallic green sweat bee in the genus Agapostemon 🐝⚡.

Bees pollinate more than 75% of flowering plants and many of the crops people rely on every day 🍎🥑🌻 By studying genomes, scientists can better understand the biology behind this essential ecosystem service.
Biodiversity genomes power science 🧬
🐝🧬 #BiodiversityGenomics #Bees #Pollinators #Genomics

Bright orange sea star with white speckles spreads across a rocky seabed covered in pale anemones and small marine life. Overlaid text reads: “Rapid Genomes. Real-Time Discovery.”

Close-up underwater view of an orange sea star moving across a dark, rocky ocean floor. Overlaid text reads: “One high-quality sea star genome can power global research — from regeneration and disease to evolution and climate adaptation.”

🇨🇦 Rapid genomes. Real-time discovery. 🧬🌊
One high-quality sea star genome can power global research — from regeneration to climate adaptation. ⭐
From regrowing limbs to surviving warming oceans, one reference genome can unlock discoveries across the Tree of Life. 🧬💻

#seastar #genomes #biodiversity

List of chromosomes - Chromosome Walk DÉCOUVREZ LE MONDE FASCINANT QUI SE CACHE AU TRÉFOND DE NOS CELLULES ...

💡 #KnowledgeHighlight | Learning Material: CHROMOSOME WALK by @sib.swiss
www.chromosomewalk.ch/en/list-of-c...

Explore open-access training materials in the ERGA #KnowledgeHub ➡️ knowledge.erga-biodiversity.eu
#scicomm #learning #chromosomes

Constraints on chromosome evolution revealed by the 229 chromosome pairs of the Atlas blue butterfly The genome of the Atlas blue butterfly contains ten times more chromosomes than most butterflies, and more than any other known diploid animal. Wright et al. show that this extraordinary karyotype is…

#ERGAReads | 🦋 Constraints on chromosome evolution revealed by the 229 chromosome pairs of the Atlas blue butterfly 🦋
www.cell.com/current-biol...

@charlottewright.bsky.social @projectpsyche.bsky.social
@currentbiology.bsky.social #evolution #chromosomes #butterfly #lepidoptera #Atlas

💡The EU-funded @mambo-project.eu is running a series of short surveys to understand what incentives and barriers exist around the use of the project's developed tools for biodiversity monitoring. ⤵️

Chromosome-level genome provides new insights into the fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius - BMC Genomics BMC Genomics - Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important nutrients that play critical roles in sea urchin reproduction and early development. Strongylocentrotus intermedius, the only...

From @bmc.springernature.com BMC #Genonics | Chromosome-level genome provides new insights into the fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism of the #SeaUrchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius | #Bioinformatics #OpenScience #GenomeSequencing | 🧬 🖥️ 🧪 🔓
⬇️
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

From @nature.com ’s #Scientific #Data | Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Annotation of Piptanthus nepalensis (Hook.) Sweet | #OpenScience #Bioinformatics #Genomics #Flowering #Plant #Legume #WholeGenomeSequencing | 🧬 🖥️ 🧪 🔓
⬇️
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Navigating Cetacean Mitochondrial Genome Data: Identifying Coverage and Deficiencies in Public Repositories Genetic reference databases underpin a wide range of molecular approaches used to study cetacean biodiversity, including environmental DNA (eDNA), yet their reliability depends critically on data com....

Navigating Cetacean Mitochondrial Genome Data: Identifying Coverage and Deficiencies in Public Repositories
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

6/8 🔹#Year of sampling had a positive effect on taxonomic congruence. This is promising❗ It indicates that technological advances and data-base completeness have improved our assessment ability!

5/8 🔹Contrastingly, congruence of species identity varied more extensively across datasets, mostly reflecting different completeness and regional relevance of reference databases. Restricting taxonomic assignment to basin-­specific species pools improved species identification accuracy.

Effective #biodiversity 🐟 🐠 🤝 policy making depends on #comparable and #generalisable data. We demonstrate how #eDNA 🧬 is empowering 💪 🌍 🌐 global biodiversity analyses.

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