Genome BC is pleased to announce recipients of project funding through its Societal Issues Competition. The projects announced in this second round of funding will examine societal issues related to agrifood and natural resources. Inside every living thing is DNA — the blueprint of life. As life scientists develop innovations in genomic technologies, people and industries alike are changing how they see and interact with the world. The application of genomics in our society is…

Continue reading

                                   Where can you see DNA across the galaxy and read what astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk has to say about it? At a new exhibition at Calgary’s Glenbow Museum curated by Mary-Beth Laviolette and including artists Erik Olson, Margaret Nazon and Gathie Falk. When Mary-Beth invited me to the opening, she asked me if there was time to do some…

Continue reading

On September 14th, the Government of Quebec announced the discovery of the province's first known case of chronic wasting disease. The disease is a progressive and fatal degenerative disease of the nervous system of cervids, which include mule deer, elk, and moose. There is currently no direct scientific evidence that CWD is transmitted to humans but it can have a major impact on hunting, recreation, and First Nations culture. The Quebec case was found in…

Continue reading

Genome Canada has conducted a review of its integrated GE3LS research program and is now seeking input regarding its findings and recommendations. Acknowledged as a world leader in the field of GE3LS research, Genome Canada initiated a review of the effectiveness of the integrated GE3LS research program in November 2017, to ensure it continues to support innovative research to foster the responsible and effective development and uptake of genomic-based applications. Executive summary Full report Report…

Continue reading

                              I had on my must-read list a recent book by Jennifer Doudna and Samuel Sternberg titled 'A Crack in Creation', a book about 'gene editing and the unthinkable power to control evolution'. Doudna is acknowledged as one of the leading scientists in the world regarding CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Not only is she frequently quoted in scientific papers, she may also be familiar to the public through her interviews and appearances on television news and…

Continue reading

“Vim and vigour” is a welcome addition to any event. For Genome Alberta researchers, however, it was the chance to share the wonders of EnVigour HX™ with producers that made the 3rd Annual Canadian Beef Industry Conference – Aug 14-16 in London, Ontario – so memorable. As the first genomic tool for crossbred cattle developed in Canada, EnVigour HX™ is the latest example of how research is applying genomics to improve meat quality and feed…

Continue reading

                              Dinosaurs to rocket science: it is not a straight line between paleontology and rocket ships, but there is a path and I learned all about it at a recent Gallagher Colloquium held at the University of Calgary. Sir Horace Walpole, Earl of Oxford coined the word serendipity in 1754 to denote 'accidental discoveries'. When people say, "Chance favors the prepared mind," they are quoting Louis Pasteur. When I consider the research career of Dr.…

Continue reading

                    After a recent update of the camera on my phone, I noticed a new icon: Google Lens. Perhaps I am one of the last to see this phone technology as it has been around since October 2017. From the recent queries I am seeing on Twitter, I suspect many people are discovering this feature for the first time right now. I see this being a useful tool for teachers, students, scientists or anyone who…

Continue reading

A group of Canadian apple researchers, growers and marketers have joined forces to give one of Canada’s oldest and most famous fruit crops some new crunch in the marketplace. Members of the National Apple Breeding Consortium say advances in the science of apple breeding and more efficient orchard designs are making it possible to bring new varieties more quickly to market to capitalize on consumer interest in apples with unique tastes and textures, while giving…

Continue reading

Mutations might sound like something from a zombie movie, but they aren’t always evil. For proof, look no further than the Genome Alberta project to develop and apply more accurate genomically-enhanced breeding values for traits of importance to the Canadian dairy industry. In pursuit of their goals, researchers know that working with mutations, also known as structural variations, is critical to success. Structural variations (SVs) are chromosomal rearrangements such as deletions, insertions and inversions that…

Continue reading