Science blog + Genetics | Science

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} // ]]> </script> <ul id="blog-posts-excerpts"> <li class="first date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Friday 24 July 2009 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/24/bacteria-computer" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{bacteria}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Bacteria make computers look like pocket calculators</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/24/bacteria-computer" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{bacteria}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="Escherichia coli bacteria (E. coli)" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/4/14/1239726486138/Escherichia-coli-bacteria-001.jpg" width="460" height="276" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">Scanning electron micrograph of E. coli bacteria. A rapidly growing colony can be programmed to act as a hugely powerful parallel computer. Photograph: Getty</p> </div> <p>Biologists have created a living computer from E. coli that can solve complex mathematical problems</p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/24/bacteria-computer">Continue reading...</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/24/bacteria-computer?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{bacteria}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350779324 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> Jacob Aron <span class="timestamp">18.44 BST</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Tuesday 14 July 2009 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/14/ageing-calorie-restriction-diet" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{t/c}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Eat up! Calorie restriction may weaken the immune system</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/14/ageing-calorie-restriction-diet" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{t/c}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="Nigel Slater: spring onion salad" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2009/5/11/1242041617832/Nigel-Slater-spring-onion-002.jpg" width="460" height="276" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">Thin pickings: Starving yourself could make you more prone to life-shortening infections. Photograph: Guardian</p> </div> <p><strong>Jacob Aron:</strong> Going hungry helps lab animals live longer, but for people living in the real world it could have the opposite effect</p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/14/ageing-calorie-restriction-diet">Continue reading...</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/14/ageing-calorie-restriction-diet?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{t/c}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350256507 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> Jacob Aron <span class="timestamp">16.47 BST</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Wednesday 10 June 2009 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/10/new-biochemistry-building-science-architecture" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{new biochem}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Welcome to our beautiful, brand new, living, working labs</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/10/new-biochemistry-building-science-architecture" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{new biochem}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="New Biochemistry building, Oxford University" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/6/10/1244655433707/New-Biochemistry-building-001.jpg" width="460" height="276" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">The entrance area creates an attractive piazza opposite the Pitt Rivers Museum. Photograph: Keith Collie/PR</p> </div> <p>Oxford University's New Biochemistry building is throwing open its doors to the public with a series of guided tours</p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/10/new-biochemistry-building-science-architecture">Continue reading...</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> Professor Jonathan Hodgkin <span class="timestamp">18.52 BST</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Monday 1 June 2009 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/01/european-elections-science-stem-cells-gm" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{euro elections}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">European elections: The anti-science sentiment infecting politics</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/01/european-elections-science-stem-cells-gm" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{euro elections}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="Nigel Farage, leader of Ukip" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2009/5/23/1243104477035/Nigel-Farage-leader-of-Uk-001.jpg" width="460" height="276" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">Ukip leader Nigel Farage. How many would register protest votes with the party if they knew <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.derekclarkmep.eu/video.htm">key members</a> believe <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://public.easterngreenparty.fastmail.fm/ukip%20misinformation.pdf">the idea of manmade climate change to be a conspiracy</a>? Photograph: Frantzeco Kangaris/EPA</p> </div> <p>In the runup to the European elections, the main political parties show a startling lack of clarity on key scientific issues, say <strong>Frank Swain</strong> and <strong>Martin Robbins</strong></p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/01/european-elections-science-stem-cells-gm">Continue reading...</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/01/european-elections-science-stem-cells-gm?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{euro elections}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-348202281 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> Frank Swain and Martin Robbins <span class="timestamp">14.39 BST</span> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2009/jun/01/science-weekly-podcast-fossil-ida-tim-peake" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{x}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Science Weekly podcast: Fossil Ida and the astronaut</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2009/jun/01/science-weekly-podcast-fossil-ida-tim-peake" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{x}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="Grubbe Messel pit: Fossil Ida" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/5/19/1242742679753/Grubbe-Messel-pit-Fossil--003.jpg" width="140" height="84" class="image-in-trail audio-mask "/> </a> <p>Adam Rutherford from Nature discusses the media reaction to the discovery of fossil Ida, and we find out more about Timothy Peake - Britain's first official astronaut</p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2009/jun/01/science-weekly-podcast-fossil-ida-tim-peake?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{x}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-348127419 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/alokjha" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Alok Jha}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{1}">Alok Jha</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesranderson" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{James Randerson}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{2}">James Randerson</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/iansample" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Ian Sample}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{3}">Ian Sample</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/adamrutherford" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Adam Rutherford}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{4}">Adam Rutherford</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/scottcawley" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Scott Cawley}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{5}">Scott Cawley</a> <span class="timestamp">00.05 BST</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Wednesday 11 March 2009 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/mar/11/what-makes-us-human" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{How gene regulation makes us human}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Regulatin' genes: Stanford biologists rap about what makes us human</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <p>If humans and apes share around 94% of their DNA, why are they so different? Stanford biologists explain – through the medium of rap</p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/mar/11/what-makes-us-human">Continue reading...</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/mar/11/what-makes-us-human?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{How gene regulation makes us human}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-344445788 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/iansample" title="Contributor's page"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/09/28/ian_sample_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt="Ian Sample"/> </a> <span>Posted by</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/iansample" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Ian Sample}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{1}">Ian Sample</a> <span class="timestamp">13.08 GMT</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Monday 9 February 2009 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/feb/09/genetics-controversiesinscience" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Should babies have their DNA profiled at birth?}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Should babies have their DNA profiled at birth?</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <p>Every newborn will, within 10 years, be able to have their entire genome mapped, a leading geneticist claims</p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/feb/09/genetics-controversiesinscience">Continue reading...</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/feb/09/genetics-controversiesinscience?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Should babies have their DNA profiled at birth?}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-342995590 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/iansample" title="Contributor's page"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/09/28/ian_sample_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt="Ian Sample"/> </a> <span>Posted by</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/iansample" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Ian Sample}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{1}">Ian Sample</a> <span class="timestamp">17.33 GMT</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Friday 23 January 2009 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/23/gm-crops-genetically-modified-food-crisis" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Will GM crops solve the worlds food crisis?}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Nearly a billion people go hungry every day – can GM crops help feed them?</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/23/gm-crops-genetically-modified-food-crisis" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Will GM crops solve the worlds food crisis?}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="A protester tearing up GM crops" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/07/28/GM460x276.jpg" width="460" height="276" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">A protester vandalises a GM crop trial. Qualms about GM food may be a luxury Africa can ill afford. Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA</p> </div> <p>Leading scientists met last night to debate whether genetically modified crops can feed the world's hungry. The issue, it seems, is as divisive as ever</p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/23/gm-crops-genetically-modified-food-crisis">Continue reading...</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/23/gm-crops-genetically-modified-food-crisis?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Will GM crops solve the worlds food crisis?}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-342242546 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/iansample" title="Contributor's page"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/09/28/ian_sample_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt="Ian Sample"/> </a> <span>Posted by</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/iansample" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Ian Sample}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{1}">Ian Sample</a> <span class="timestamp">16.56 GMT</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Wednesday 7 January 2009 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/07/autism-test-genius-dirac" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Was Britains Einstein autistic?}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">A prenatal test for autism would deprive the world of future geniuses</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/07/autism-test-genius-dirac" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Was Britains Einstein autistic?}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="British physicist Paul Dirac" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/01/07/dirac.article.jpg" width="460" height="276" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">Paul Dirac – a pioneer of quantum mechanics – displayed some of the classic signs of autism. Photograph: AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives</p> </div> <p>A <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=6155196">new book</a> on the greatest British physicist since Newton speculates that both his profound mathematical abilites and his extreme social awkwardness stemmed from undiagnosed autism. </p><p>The claims – from <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.danacentre.org.uk/events/2009/01/27">a biography of Paul Dirac by Graham Farmelo</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=6155196">The Strangest Man</a> – tie in with an <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7736196.stm">article on the BBC website</a> from leading autism researcher <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc/staff_member.asp?id=33">Prof Simon Baron-Cohen</a>. Baron-Cohen says we need a public debate about the prenatal diagnosis of autism. Although such a test is not yet available, it soon could be. </p><p>Baron-Cohen points out that the use of embryo selection during IVF to reject babies with autism genes might have the effect of preventing some individuals with brilliant mathematical abilities from being born.<br/> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/07/autism-test-genius-dirac">Continue reading...</a></p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/07/autism-test-genius-dirac?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Was Britains Einstein autistic?}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-341440255 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesranderson" title="Contributor's page"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/10/10/james_randerson_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt="James Randerson"/> </a> <span>Posted by</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesranderson" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{James Randerson}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{1}">James Randerson</a> <span class="timestamp">14.43 GMT</span> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/07/genome-sequence-genetics" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Genome hunters set sights on creatures great and small}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Genome hunters set their sights on creatures great and small</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/07/genome-sequence-genetics" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Genome hunters set sights on creatures great and small}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="Pigs in a farm" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Travel/Pix/pictures/2008/07/21/PigsLotharLenzzefa4.jpg" width="460" height="276" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">The pig, which is used to model human diseases like obesity and heart disease, is having its genome sequenced as part of the Mammalian Genome Project. Photograph: Corbis</p> </div> <p>We've all heard about the human genome, but DNA sequencing projects rarely make headlines unless they have entertainment value – like the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/20/genetics-zoology">woolly mammoth genome published last November</a>.</p><p>Nevertheless, the DNA sequence database <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/genbankstats.html">Genbank</a> is growing exponentially, with the latest release containing nearly 100m gene sequences (99,116,431,942 bases), 40m of which were deposited within the past two years. In addition, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v26/n10/full/nbt1485.html">recent breakthroughs in DNA sequencing technology</a> are generating data more quickly and cheaply.</p><p>There are 83 mammalian genome sequencing projects in progress, 45 of which have passed the sequencing stage and are being assembled into a complete genome. So it's a good time to ask what kind of questions scientists hope to answer by studying whole genomes, and which species have been selected for sequencing. <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/07/genome-sequence-genetics">Continue reading...</a></p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/07/genome-sequence-genetics?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Genome hunters set sights on creatures great and small}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-341395496 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> Jane Charlesworth <span class="timestamp">08.30 GMT</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Friday 2 January 2009 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/02/richard-dawkins-chimpanzee-hybrid" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Richard Dawkins: Blurring the human/animal boundary}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Richard Dawkins: How would you feel about a half-human half-chimp hybrid?</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/02/richard-dawkins-chimpanzee-hybrid" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Richard Dawkins: Blurring the human/animal boundary}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="A female chimpanzee holds her baby" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/06/17/chimp.article.jpg" width="460" height="320" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">During our lifetime, says Dawkins, the technology will exist to bring the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees back to life. Photograph: Tom Gilbert/AP</p> </div> <p><strong>Richard Dawkins</strong> speculates on how a human-chimp hybrid or the discovery of a living <em> Homo erectus</em> would change the way we see the world</p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/02/richard-dawkins-chimpanzee-hybrid">Continue reading...</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/02/richard-dawkins-chimpanzee-hybrid?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Richard Dawkins: Blurring the human/animal boundary}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-341276373 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesranderson" title="Contributor's page"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/10/10/james_randerson_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt="James Randerson"/> </a> <span>Posted by</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesranderson" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{James Randerson}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{1}">James Randerson</a> <span class="timestamp">17.04 GMT</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Tuesday 30 December 2008 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/dec/30/virgin-birth-mary" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Was the Virgin Mary genetically male?}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Virgin conception would be more plausible if Mary was a man</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/dec/30/virgin-birth-mary" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Was the Virgin Mary genetically male?}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="assumption of the virgin mary by giuseppe ghedine" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/10/01/virgin460.jpg" width="460" height="276" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">Assumption of the Virgin Mary by Giuseppe Ghedine. Photograph: Corbis</p> </div> <p>Could testicular feminisation offer an explanation for the mystery of Christ's virgin birth, wonders <em>Aarathi Prasad</em></p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/dec/30/virgin-birth-mary">Continue reading...</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/dec/30/virgin-birth-mary?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Was the Virgin Mary genetically male?}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-341188309 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> Aarathi Prasad <span class="timestamp">15.33 GMT</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Monday 22 December 2008 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2008/dec/22/science-weekly-podcast-christmas-lectures" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Science Weekly podcast: Chris Bishop discusses the quest for the ultimat}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Science Weekly podcast: Chris Bishop discusses the quest for the ultimate computer</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2008/dec/22/science-weekly-podcast-christmas-lectures" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Science Weekly podcast: Chris Bishop discusses the quest for the ultimat}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="Christmas turkey" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/12/01/turkeydinner140.jpg" width="140" height="84" class="image-in-trail audio-mask "/> </a> <p>Recorded at London's Royal Institution, Chris Bishop discusses his Christmas lectures on the future of computing</p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2008/dec/22/science-weekly-podcast-christmas-lectures?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Science Weekly podcast: Chris Bishop discusses the quest for the ultimat}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-340883393 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/alokjha" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Alok Jha}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{1}">Alok Jha</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/andyduckworth" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Andy Duckworth}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{2}">Andy Duckworth</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesranderson" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{James Randerson}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{3}">James Randerson</a> <span class="timestamp">00.35 GMT</span> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2008/dec/22/science-weekly-extra-podcast-gm" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Science Weekly Extra podcast: A visit to Londons Science Museums GM ex}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Science Weekly Extra podcast: A visit to London's Science Museum's GM exhibition</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2008/dec/22/science-weekly-extra-podcast-gm" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Science Weekly Extra podcast: A visit to Londons Science Museums GM ex}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="GM crops, winter oilseed rape" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/10/06/gm_crops.jpg" width="140" height="84" class="image-in-trail audio-mask "/> </a> <p>The new GM food exhibition at London's Science Museum</p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2008/dec/22/science-weekly-extra-podcast-gm?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Science Weekly Extra podcast: A visit to Londons Science Museums GM ex}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-340882836 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/andyduckworth" name="&lid={blogBylineContributor}{Andy Duckworth}&lpos={blogBylineContributor}{1}">Andy Duckworth</a> <span class="timestamp">00.06 GMT</span> </div> </li> <li class=" date-posted "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <p class="date"> Tuesday 9 December 2008 </p> </div> </li> <li class=" "> <div class="blog-excerpt"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/dec/09/medicalresearch-health" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Regulators must clamp down on genetic testing firms}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Taming the genetic wild west</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <div class="blog-image-caption"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/dec/09/medicalresearch-health" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Regulators must clamp down on genetic testing firms}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="DNA" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Technology/Pix/pictures/2008/04/23/DNA460x276.jpg" width="460" height="276" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <p class="caption">Genetic tests must not only be accurate, but also give a valid picture of disease risk. Photograph: Getty</p> </div> <p>Genetic testing companies operate in a regulatory abyss. For the sake of public safety and confidence that has to change, writes <strong>Stuart Hogarth</strong></p> <a class="continue-reading" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/dec/09/medicalresearch-health">Continue reading...</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/dec/09/medicalresearch-health?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Regulators must clamp down on genetic testing firms}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-340514697 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog-byline"> <span>Posted by</span> Stuart Hogarth <span class="timestamp">09.49 GMT</span> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="pagination"> <li class="first"></li> <li class="last"><a name="&lid={blogTagAutoTrailblock}{pagination-next}&lpos={blogTagAutoTrailblock}{1}" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog+genetics?page=2" rel="nofollow">Next</a></li> <li>1</li> <li><a name="&lid={blogTagAutoTrailblock}{pagination-page}&lpos={blogTagAutoTrailblock}{2}" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog+genetics?page=2" rel="nofollow">2</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="promo"> <div id="rightslot1" class="hide-on-popup"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("displayads")) { var src = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://ads.guardian.co.uk/js.ng/spacedesc=rightslot1&comfolder=notcommerciallyuseful&keywords=%2CGenetics%2B%28Science%29%2C&site=Science&bandwidth=broadband&url=%252Fscience%252Fblog%252Bgenetics&rand=94248535&series=&system=tagcombiner&tile=3844213&blockVideoAds=false&'; 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class="tab-toggle javascript-on"> <li id="most-viewed-blog-1-link"> <a href="#most-viewed-blog-1" class="active">Comments<b></b></a> </li> </ul> <div class="pane-wrapper"> <div id="most-viewed-blog-1" class="most-viewed-blog-pane tab-toggle-pane"> <h3 class="js-hider">Comments</h3> <ol> <li class="first"> <span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/17/new-element-copernicus-copernicium">Copernicus nominated for the select club of elemental scientists</a> (4) </li> </ol> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="blog-related-links" class="capsule"> <div class="capsule ed-zone "> <div id="" class="tri trail trailblock"> <ul class="tri trail trailblock"> <li class="major-heading first"> <h2> On this blog </h2> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog+environment/climate-change" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Climate change}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Climate change</a> </div> </div> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog+science/controversiesinscience" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Controversies}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Controversies</a> </div> </div> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog+science/ethicsofscience" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Ethics}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Ethics</a> </div> </div> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog+science/evolution" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Evolution}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Evolution</a> </div> </div> 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class="link-text">realclimate.org</a> </div> </div> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://sandwalk.blogspot.com/" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Sandwalk}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Sandwalk</a> </div> </div> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{alphagalileo.org}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">alphagalileo.org</a> </div> </div> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.eurekalert.org/" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{eurekalert}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">eurekalert</a> </div> </div> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://public.web.cern.ch/Public/Welcome.html" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Cern}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Cern</a> </div> </div> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.nasa.gov/" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Nasa}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Nasa</a> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="blogs-calendar"> <div class="capsule"> <h2>Science blog weekly archives</h2> <div id="calendar-container"> <table title="Calendar for July" summary="Calendar for July" id="calendar"> <thead> <tr> <th colspan="7" scope="col"> <strong class="month">Jul 2009</strong> <a title="Previous month" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Previous}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{1}" class="previous"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/calendar/left_arrow.gif" alt="Previous" height="18" width="19"/> </a> </th> </tr> <tr class="month-nav"> <th scope="col" title="Monday" class="first">M</th> <th scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th> <th scope="col" title="Sunday" class="last">S</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="not-this-month first">29</td> <td class="not-this-month ">30</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 1}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{2}">1</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 2}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{3}">2</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 3}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{4}">3</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 4}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{5}">4</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 5}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{6}">5</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 6}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{7}">6</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 7}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{8}">7</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 8}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{9}">8</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 9}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{10}">9</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 10}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{11}">10</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 11}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{12}">11</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 12}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{13}">12</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 13}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{14}">13</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 14}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{15}">14</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 15}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{16}">15</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 16}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{17}">16</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 17}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{18}">17</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 18}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{19}">18</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 19}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{20}">19</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 20}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{21}">20</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 21}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{22}">21</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 22}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{23}">22</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 23}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{24}">23</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 24}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{25}">24</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 25}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{26}">25</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 26}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{27}">26</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/27/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 27}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{28}" class="today">27</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/27/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 28}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{29}">28</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/27/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 29}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{30}">29</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/27/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 30}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{31}">30</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/27/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 31}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{32}">31</a></td> <td class="not-this-month ">1</td> <td class="not-this-month last">2</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </div> <div id="sponsored-features" class="capsule sponsored-features commercial"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function showSponsoredFeatures() { var sponsoredFeatureComponent = document.getElementById('sponsored-features'); if(sponsoredFeatureComponent) { sponsoredFeatureComponent.style.display = 'block'; } } //]]> </script> <ul class="trail trailblock tri"> <li class="major-heading"> <h3>Sponsored features</h3> </li> <li class="normal image odd"> <script type="text/javascript" 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value="gu_jobs_box_Science"/> <input type="hidden" name="link" value="Science_jbx_go"/> </fieldset> </form> <p class="find-a-job"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/searchjobs/?keyword=science&gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Science&link=Science_jbx_brsesec" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Browse Science jobs}&lpos={jobsBox}{1}">Browse Science jobs</a> </p> <ul class="jobs"> <li class="odd"><h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/892140/global-change-communications-manager?RSSSearch=0&gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Science&link=Science_jbx_vac" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Global Change Communications Manager|Science}&lpos={jobsBox}{2}">Global Change Communications Manager</a></h4> <p><span class="employer">vma group.</span> <span class="location">* brand new role * global organisation * £55-£65k….</span> <span class="wage">Not Specified.</span> </p> </li> <li><h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/895401/world-database-on-protected-areas-content-officer-protected-areas-programme?RSSSearch=0&gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Science&link=Science_jbx_vac" name="&lid={jobsBox}{World Database on Protected Areas Content Officer-&hellip;|Science}&lpos={jobsBox}{3}">World Database on Protected Areas Content Officer-…</a></h4> <p><span class="employer">unep world conservation.</span> <span class="location">cambridge.</span> <span class="wage">£20,106 - £36,951.</span> </p> </li> <li class="odd"><h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090801124438/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/893680/invitation-for-research-proposal?RSSSearch=0&gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Science&link=Science_jbx_vac" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Invitation for Research Proposal|Science}&lpos={jobsBox}{4}">Invitation for Research Proposal</a></h4> <p><span class="employer">association of colleges.</span> <span class="location">we are inviting proposals for research which 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