[News] Growing Sea Lamprey Embryos Dramatically Alter Genomes

[Galapagos]

ScienceDaily (July 21, 2009) — Researchers have discovered that the sea lamprey, which emerged from jawless fish first appearing 500 million years ago, dramatically remodels its genome. Shortly after a fertilized lamprey egg divides into several cells, the growing embryo discards millions of units of its DNA.

 

The findings were published this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The lead author is Jeramiah Smith, a postdoctoral fellow in genome sciences at the University of Washington (UW) working in the Benaroya Research Institute laboratory of Chris Amemiya, who is also a UW affiliate professor of iology.

 

Growing Sea Lamprey Embryos Dramatically Alter Genomes, Discard Millions Of Units Of DNA