Update

Update

Thank you for taking part in the Darwin Tree of Life actvity!

It’s the final day of the Darwin Tree of Life activity! Thank you students for taking part, attending live Chats and engaging with the scientists working on the project! Alex Davey has this to say:   “Fascinating range of questions from the students – from the fundamentals of climate change to our favourite species to career options! I hope we were able to provide some interesting answers.”     Quiz Winner! We had over 200 submissions of the final quiz! The winner was……… Lucy  from Winstanley College 🥳 Congratulations Lucy. Your voucher is on it’s way to you! 🥳    Want to win £20? It’s your final chance to fill out the survey. Remember you could be in with a chance of winning a £20 voucher if you complete!   From everyone at the Darwin Tree of Life activity and I’m a Scientist thank you for taking part. We hope to … Continue reading →

Posted on July 15, 2022 by modhannah in DToL, Update | Tagged | Comments Off on Thank you for taking part in the Darwin Tree of Life actvity!

Surfing the net for fish sustainability! 🐟🦈

We walk, sit and read books by it but how much do we actually know about our seas and the creatures that live in them? 🌊🔍 Luke Lythgoe has been reporting about his colleagues who are building genomic notes and tracers to provide a more detailed picture of what happens in the deep blue of our seas.  Why is this important?  Well, such research and insight provides the tools to better aid conservation efforts. A key species is the Atlantic horse mackeral (Trachurus trachurus).  Once widespread in seas around Europe and Africa, it is now classified as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List – this document, formed of seven categories, assesses the conservation status of species at a global level.  Why so vulnerable?  Much of its decline is traced to overfishing as it is caught in huge numbers and used in everything from sushi to fish meal. The future of … Continue reading →

Posted on July 5, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Surfing the net for fish sustainability! 🐟🦈

Are you sett for this new discovery? 🦡

Research into the European Badger (Meles meles) and their extraordinary nocturnal behaviours is really rather exciting… have you heard the good news!?  The University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (Wild CRU) and Wellcome Sanger Institute have been looking into how badger biology and behaviour are giving us insights into the impacts of disease and climate change on the UK landscape. They collected some blood samples from an individual badger plus both of its parents (don’t worry, they are all happy and healthy) in Wytham Woods – a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Oxford.  They then extracted DNA from the samples, to sequence and build a genome profile.  The best thing about this?  Well, the badger is an indictor species of climate change.  Because of its widespread habitat – across much of Eastern Europe, Asia and Japan – badgers are a good model species through which to assess … Continue reading →

Posted on June 27, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Are you sett for this new discovery? 🦡

Are we lichen what we see? 🌿

Ever wondered what that scaly stuff is growing on gravestones on churchyards?  Maybe you have noticed it and been amazed at the array of colours and textures but never could quite identify them. Sound familiar? Lichens are remarkable in being very difficult to identify.  They often grow in the most unremarkable and obscure places,  including in churchyards, on trees and even on the side of stone buildings.  Did you know that they are also a good indicator of clean air – as many hate pollution! This week, Rebecca Yahr from the Plant Power team, attempts to uncover fact from fiction. In the process, she explains how the Darwin project is helping scientists discover more about lichens and educate us all about their importance. Read more here    

Posted on June 23, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Are we lichen what we see? 🌿

Darwin Tree of Life was on the news! 📰

Rebecca Morelle, a science editor for the BBC, picked up on the fantastic work being conducted by the scientists as part of the Darwin Tree of Life project.  How fantastic is that! We are delighted that the project is being recognised for its ambition and the ground-breaking research that it is hoping to produce. This project, to sequence over 70,000 species (yes, you heard that right, 70,000!) is ambitious for many reasons.  Not least because the goal is to make history by 2030! 8 years from now. Do you think they can do it? What is the species you would like to see sequenced next? Let us know in the comments. Jamie McGowan, who is part of the Perfect Protists team, has been busy with some pond water.  He is set up in the lab, looking through a microscope at a single drop of water. In this single drop, there … Continue reading →

Posted on June 17, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Darwin Tree of Life was on the news! 📰

All Things Fungal!

Did you know that fungi are more closely related to animals than plants? That they make countless contributions to medical, industrial, agricultural and sustainable applications? That they also recycle nutrients, help plants absorb water and help tackle accelerated climate change? Fungi are some of the least known and mysterious organisms on Earth and in this article, Richard Wright, Elena Arrigoni and Ester Gaya uncover more of the untold secrets about them.  Working with the Plant and Fungal Explorers team, these three scientists are helping to record and describe more and more of these incredible species – over 3.5 million still need to be recorded though, so lets wish them good luck! Read more about the secret lives of fungi here

Posted on June 16, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , | Comments Off on All Things Fungal!

Do Yew know your history? 🌳

How well do you know all the tree species in the UK? Could you identify ash, birch, oak leaves from all the others?  How about Yew? The European Yew (Taxus baccata) is one of Britain’s most mysterious trees.  They are tied up in local and national legend, everything from Robin Hood to symbols of resurrection.  And in amongst all these tales of old, there are some remarkable stories of the restoration of Yew at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh! Max Coleman, part of the Plant Power team, is a big fan. Find out why and read more about this remarkable species of tree here 

Posted on June 9, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Do Yew know your history? 🌳

Discovery of a new bobtail squid 🦑

Did you know that cuttlefish have not just one but three hearts? That they move by pushing water at high speed through their gills and fins? That there are over 100 different species?  And they can change their colour and texture to match their environment?  No! Well, let Kesella Scott-Somme take you on a journey of discovery into the world of cephalopods. Kesella, along with Team Marine, have uncovered the secrets of a new species of squid: the bobtail squid. 🦑🌊 Read more about them here as well as a handful of other species that the scientists are excited to sequence.  

Posted on May 30, 2022 by modhannah in Update | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Discovery of a new bobtail squid 🦑

🐝 Release of full bee genome sequences creates a buzz

Bumblebees play an important role in landscape… but how much do you really know about them?   Did you know that there are 24 different species in the UK, or that their venom could be used to make medicines, or that a healthy hive of bees can travel an equivalent distance from Earth to the moon everyday? Liam Crowley, of the Woodland Wonders team, uncovers all of these fascinating facts and more and explains why, out of all the species he could work with, why bumblebees are so important to life on Earth and to the Darwin Tree of Life project. Read more about bumblebees here    

Posted on May 24, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 🐝 Release of full bee genome sequences creates a buzz

🍎🍏 Blazing the apple trail in Edinburgh

Ever wondered where apples come from and how we get the DNA we need to grow the juicy, sweet varieties that we enjoy today? No. Well, you are missing out! Max Coleman, of the Plant Power team, takes us on a journey back in time explaining the history of apples, why Scotland is so important and what the Romans taught us about cultivation. Read more about the secret history of apples here  

Posted on May 10, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 🍎🍏 Blazing the apple trail in Edinburgh

Pearl-bordered fritillary: At risk butterfly lays foundations for her species’ recovery

Butterflies are marvellous.  A single female pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne) is at the heart of a reintroduction project in the Malvern hills, looking to reintroduce this rare species back onto a site where the species has been extinct for the past 30 years. Read more about this incredible project here  

Posted on May 3, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged | Comments Off on Pearl-bordered fritillary: At risk butterfly lays foundations for her species’ recovery

🐸 Warts and all: The differences between frogs and toads

“Croak!” said the Toad, “I’m hungry, I think; To-day I’ve had nothing to eat or to drink” “Ho, ho!” quoth the Frog, “is that what you mean? Then I’ll hop away to the next meadow stream“ Ever wondered what the remarkable differences are between frogs and toads?  What does their skin look like, how do they walk and do their eggs form in clumps or strings?  How can the genomes that are collected help us understand more about these species?     🐸🧬 Read more about the amphibian discoveries here 🧬🐸  

Posted on April 6, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 🐸 Warts and all: The differences between frogs and toads

🐌🌊 Snail hunting in the dark sea caves of Wales

Think the seaside is all about swimming and building sandcastles? Think again! Kesella Scott-Somme and Team Marine at the Marine Biological Association took to the sea caves of Wales, to discover the hidden secrets of Bas’s cave snail (Otina ovata), amongst other species!  These fascinating snails look like limpets but they are actually a type of snail that dwells in marine environments clinging to the smoother walls of caves and rockpools. In her post, Kesella explains the importance of these snails as well as starfish and seaweed that they stumbled upon and how their research is shedding light on these species’ important role in the marine ecosystem. 🐌🌊⭐🌱 Read more here 🐌🌊⭐🌱

Posted on March 30, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 🐌🌊 Snail hunting in the dark sea caves of Wales

🍄🧬 Chicken of the Woods: Our first fungus genome

Success for the Darwin Tree of Life Project: our first genome of a fungus is live! 🍄🌱🧬 If you go down to the woods today, you are in for a big surprise! 🏆🎉 The first genome has been collected and it is none other than the Chicken of the Woods, Laetiporus sulphureus.  This fungus is one of the most unusual located in woods throughout the UK.  It’s bright orange and yellow colouring is one of the most eye-catching, making its home on many of our native broadleaved species, including oak, sweet chestnut and ash! 🍄🌱🧬 The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has been instrumental in helping deliver this genome.  Read more about the fascinating history and work here 🍄🌱🧬

Posted on March 18, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 🍄🧬 Chicken of the Woods: Our first fungus genome

🧬 How bioinformatics can crack the complex case of protist biodiversity

We continue our protist journey by focusing upon the work of Dr Jamie McGowan, a member of our Perfect Protists team, who is collaborating with the Earlham Institute and the University of Oxford to shed some more light on these elusive species.  Jamie is working hard to catalogue the different protist species and to ‘analyse the sequencing data, assemble the genomes, work out how they are evolving and how they’re related to each other’… all on a microscopic scale! 🧬🧫 Read more about how the cutting edge research overcomes a number of challenges here 🧬🧫

Posted on March 14, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 🧬 How bioinformatics can crack the complex case of protist biodiversity

🐝 Parasitoid wasps: Indispensable insects you never think about… or never want to!

Imagine a caterpillar.  Nice and cosy in its chrysalis and then along comes a wasp who lands on the chrysalis shell, injects some eggs into the chamber and flies away.  A couple of months later, what emerges is not what one would expect… instead of a caterpillar, a handful of tiny wasps. Parasites might not be the most cute and cuddly critters but they do have an important role to play in the natural world – they are an essential part of the food chain.  Gavin Broad, of our Invertebrate Investigators team, explains why we should be more interested in this diverse group of insects and highlights why it is important to conserve them and more importantly, fill the parasitoid wasp genome gap! 🐝🦋🐛 Read more about Gavin and his research here 🐝🦋🐛

Posted on March 7, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 🐝 Parasitoid wasps: Indispensable insects you never think about… or never want to!

🔬 Majestic marine worms under the microscope

What do you picture when someone asks you to think of a cute animal?  Chances are your first thought isn’t a marine worm… but think again!  Kesella Scott-Somme takes a light-hearted look into the world of marine worms and helps prove that even those that wiggle can still be awfully cute! 🔬 We love a good microscope image and you cannot beat one where a worm is smiling at you! Check out more of these selfies here 🐛

Posted on March 2, 2022 by modchryssa in DToL, Update | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 🔬 Majestic marine worms under the microscope

🦠 Priest Pot: A seldom-studied protist paradise

Ever wondered what lurks beneath the surface in water bodies around the UK?  Well, to answer that question is a team of scientists from the University of Oxford who are studying the lesser known protists – single celled organisms – and their important role in developing complex ecosystems. Read more about their fieldwork journey to collect some rare samples from a hidden corner of the Lake District.

Posted on March 1, 2022 by modhannah in DToL, Update | Tagged | Comments Off on 🦠 Priest Pot: A seldom-studied protist paradise

⭐ Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life Progress Report March to July 2021

Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life runs from March 2021 to July 2022. This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust, grant reference 206194/Z/17/Z and 218328/Z/19/Z. This report will detail progress of the Zone from 15 March 2021 to 14 July 2021. The activity features 35 people working on the Darwin Tree of Life Project. Download the Zone Report (pdf) ❯ Scientists 35 scientists and researchers created profiles in the Zone. See who is taking part ❯ The winner of the Summer Term was Code Crackers. 🏆 The Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life trophy is on its way to the team! 🏆 Students 291 students from 14 schools logged into the Zone. 87% of active students were from target schools: 29% from widening participation schools and 62% from underserved schools. Live chats 32 live chats took place. 13 were booked by teachers and 19 were additional chats, open to … Continue reading →

Posted on September 22, 2021 by in Evaluation, Update | Comments Off on ⭐ Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life Progress Report March to July 2021

🧬 That’s a wrap! Catch up on the full series of Genomics Lite webinars

That’s it for the Genomics Lite: Biodiversity & Evolution sessions! This June and July, Genomics Lite and the people involved in the Darwin Tree of Life project have given us all a great insight into genomics, biodiversity, and evolution. Throughout the series, the teams have: Looked at how genomics can aid our understanding of biodiversity and evolution. Discussed and compared methods and challenges in sequencing the genomes of old and new samples. Examined how humans have affected the evolution of malaria and mosquitos. Explored different careers and routes into the biodiversity and evolution fields. Even though the series has finished, you can continue learning with the Genomic Lite resources: Discover how scientists have been able to better understand the history of human evolution and whether humans are still evolving by studying the human genome. Find out more about different types of evolution and what natural selection in action looks like. … Continue reading →

Posted on July 19, 2021 by modemily in Update | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 🧬 That’s a wrap! Catch up on the full series of Genomics Lite webinars

Watch Perfect Protists and Team Marine on Genomics Lite

[caption id="attachment_6381" align="alignright" width="220"] Joanna Harley, from Team Marine, is one of the scientists taking part in Session 4[/caption]This Thursday’s Genomics Lite webinar is all about careers. Learn more about careers and routes into the biodiversity and evolution fields, and put your questions to people who’ve been in your shoes.

Session 4 will take place on Thursday 8 July, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Register now ❯ Continue reading →

Posted on July 6, 2021 by modjosie in Update | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Watch Perfect Protists and Team Marine on Genomics Lite

Time to get quizzical…

It’s that time again! We have a brand new set of quiz questions for you. Our quiz is updated each half-term. The student who gets the most correct answers is in with a chance to win a £10 voucher. The winner of our last quiz was… (drumroll please…) Amy from The Arnewood School 🥳 Your turn – take part in this half term’s quiz for your chance to win ❯ Top tips for finding quiz answers: Take a look around the Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life! All of the answers are around for you to find. Complete the first activity. If you haven’t done it yet, now is definitely the time – plus, it’s a great way to hone those researching and essay-writing skills. Go to the activity ❯ Meet the teams. Ask them questions, read their profiles, and check out their updates! View teams ❯ Check out the … Continue reading →

Posted on June 30, 2021 by in Update | Comments Off on Time to get quizzical…

🌳 Get the most out of Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life

Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life connects you with the experts sequencing the genomes of every living thing in Britain and Ireland. You can take part from today until July 2022. There are lots of ways to take part Chat with the experts! Every month you can Chat with experts working on the Darwin Tree of Life project. It’s after-school and theres a new topic each month. Join the Chats on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7pm here. Meet the teams ❯ Find out about the experts in each team. Read about their role on the Darwin Tree of Life project, what problems they’re currently solving and which species they’re currently working on. Follow the sequencing of your favourite species step-by-step. Get Tree of Life Gateway updates straight to your dashboard by editing your profile. Ask questions. You can send questions to the experts whenever you like! Ask … Continue reading →

Posted on June 18, 2021 by in Update | Comments Off on 🌳 Get the most out of Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life

Sequencing the Biome of Great Britain: Listen to the podcast

How will the Darwin Tree of Life benefit the public? What are the biggest challenges the project has faced? And how much DNA can you really get from a protist? The University of Edinburgh’s BioPOD, a podcast by the School of Biological Sciences, chose to interview Professor Mark Blaxter and Dr Alex Twyford about the Darwin Tree of Life project in May 2021. Professor Mark Blaxter is Programme Lead for Tree of Life Programme, and Dr Alex Twyford is an evolutionary biologist working at the University of Edinburgh who is interested in speciation and adaptation in flowering plants. They are both heavily involved in the Darwin Tree of Life project. Professor Blaxter and Dr Twyford discuss the benefits of the project, and how “sequencing life for the future of life” can improve our understanding of genomes, and global conservation efforts. They also touch on the potential resources hidden within genomes, … Continue reading →

Posted on June 10, 2021 by modjosie in Update | Tagged | Comments Off on Sequencing the Biome of Great Britain: Listen to the podcast

Quizzers, challenge yourself with a new set of questions!

As you might already know, we’ve introduced a brand new quiz to Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life. Every half term, we update it with new questions. The student who gets the most correct answers is in with a chance to win a £10 voucher. Last week’s winner was… (drumroll please…) Alessandra from Hills Road Sixth Form College 🥳 Your turn – take part in this week’s quiz for your chance to win ❯ Top tips for finding quiz answers: Take a look around the Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life! All of the answers are around for you to find. Complete the first activity. If you haven’t done it yet, now is definitely the time – plus, it’s a great way to hone those researching and essay-writing skills. Go to the activity ❯ Meet the teams. Ask them questions, read their profiles, and check out their updates! View teams … Continue reading →

Posted on May 28, 2021 by modjosie in Update | Comments Off on Quizzers, challenge yourself with a new set of questions!

Finding life in every drop of water

“If we really want to understand life, and the way that we function, we need to understand how protists fit into our lives and fit into evolution.” – Dr Sally Warring Dr Sally Warring, a member of the Perfect Protists team, recently appeared in a video by BBC Earth talking about her work, and the Darwin Tree of Life project. View Dr Sally Warring’s appearance on BBC Earth:  Ask Sally Warring a question Ask Sally Warring a question Ask This Question!

Posted on April 8, 2021 by modjosie in Update | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Finding life in every drop of water

The Weird and Wonderful World of Protists: an interview with Sally Warring

“I think it’s a good thing to have people more aware of microorganisms. And also they’re really cool.” – Dr Sally Warring

Dr Sally Warring is a protistologist working on the Darwin Tree of Life project as part of the Perfect Protists team.

Continue reading →

Posted on March 30, 2021 by modjosie in Update | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Weird and Wonderful World of Protists: an interview with Sally Warring

Successful full genome sequencing of three bumblebee species

The Darwin Tree of Life team are delighted to announce the release of three complete bumblebee genomes this week.

Dr Liam Crowley, a postdoctoral field biologist at the University of Oxford who is a member of the Woodland Wonders team, writes about the importance of sequencing the genomes of bumblebees, and which species were sequenced. Continue reading →

Posted on March 26, 2021 by modjosie in Update | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Successful full genome sequencing of three bumblebee species

🧬 The starting point

This month, we’re kicking off Schools @ Darwin Tree of Life! What’s this all about? The Darwin Tree of Life project is sequencing the genomes of all 60,000 species of eukaryotic organisms in Britain and Ireland. Meet scientists and researchers from the institutions involved in making it possible. Ask the questions you’re curious about. Develop your independent research and study skills before you head to university. You can get a behind-the-scenes look at a cutting-edge science project that hopes to transform the way we do biology, conservation and biotechnology. Take part in a live Chat On Monday 15 March at 1pm, take part in the very first live Chat with some of the teams involved in making the Darwin Tree of Life project happen. Whether you want to check in on progress, learn how you get involved in big projects, or have any other burning questions – this is the place. … Continue reading →

Posted on March 9, 2021 by modjosie in Update | Comments Off on 🧬 The starting point

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