Key Findings of the Study:

1. Alu Insertion and Tail Loss:
   The researchers discovered an Alu-mediated genetic change in a common ancestor of modern apes and humans. This change disrupted the normal function of a gene involved in tail development, leading to the suppression of tail formation.

2. Gene Disruption Mechanism:
   The Alu insertion was found within a regulatory region of the TBXT gene (also known as T or Brachyury), which is crucial for tail development in vertebrates. This insertion likely altered the gene's expression patterns, leading to tail reduction over evolutionary time.

3. Functional Evidence from Model Organisms:
   To test their hypothesis, the researchers introduced similar genetic modifications in mice. The modified mice exhibited shortened or absent tails, supporting the idea that the identified mutation played a role in tail loss in hominoids.

4. Evolutionary Implications:
   The findings suggest that small, random genomic changes—such as transposable element insertions—can have profound effects on body morphology. This study provides evidence that mobile DNA elements (like Alu) can drive major evolutionary transitions.

5. Relevance to Human Evolution:
   Understanding the genetic basis of tail loss helps in reconstructing the evolutionary history of hominins (the lineage that includes humans and our extinct relatives). It also sheds light on how genetic variations contribute to anatomical diversity among primates.

Significance of the Study:

This research highlights the role of transposable elements in shaping evolutionary traits and provides a concrete genetic explanation for a defining characteristic of humans and great apes. It also demonstrates how mutations in regulatory regions of developmental genes can lead to significant anatomical changes.

Bio-Linux is using an Ubuntu LTS version as its base

The fact that it uses Ubuntu LTS versions for the base is a good thing because it means its users won't have to worry about the support. Ubuntu 14.04 LTS is supported until 2019, so people who are using Bio-Linux shouldn't have a problem.

"An updated Bio-Linux 8 version is now on the website in ISO and OVA versions. As usual, there is no need to download this version if you are an existing user. All updates to existing packages will be applied to your system through the update manager and new packages are all available via apt-get or Synaptic," reads the announcement.

The changelog also states that a problem that was preventing the desktop to not start on VirtualBox has been fixed, the QIIME and Bowtie-Bio tools have been upgraded, the pandaseq paired end assembler has been added, and the beginners tutorial specific to Bio-Linux 8 has been improved.

Check out the official announcement for a complete list of changes and updates. You can download Bio-Linux 8.0.5 right now from Softpedia and give it a spin. It has the Unity desktop and now it runs very well in virtual environments.

Reference @ http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bioinformatics-Distro-Bio-Linux-8-0-5-Now-Available-for-Download-469867.shtml

More at https://www.uibk.ac.at/limno/personnel/stelzer/index.html.en#research

Transcription is the process by which the information in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA) for protein production. Originally created for DNA Interactive ( http://www.dnai.org ). TRANSCRIPT: The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology: "DNA makes RNA makes protein" Here the process begins. Transcription factors assemble at a specific promoter region along the DNA. The length of DNA following the promoter is a gene and it contains the recipe for a protein. A mediator protein complex arrives carrying the enzyme RNA polymerase. It manoeuvres the RNA polymerase into place... inserting it with the help of other factors between the strands of the DNA double helix. The assembled collection of all these factors is referred to as the transcription initiation complex... and now it is ready to be activated. The initiation complex requires contact with activator proteins, which bind to specific sequences of DNA known as enhancer regions. These regions may be thousands of base pairs distant from the start of the gene. Contact between the activator proteins and the initiation-complex releases the copying mechanism. The RNA polymerase unzips a small portion of the DNA helix exposing the bases on each strand. Only one of the strands is copied. It acts as a template for the synthesis of an RNA molecule which is assembled one sub-unit at a time by matching the DNA letter code on the template strand. The sub-units can be seen here entering the enzyme through its intake hole and they are joined together to form the long messenger RNA chain snaking out of the top.

Research Associate – one post

Date & Time of Interview 18th Feb 2015 at 10.00 a.m.

Essential Qualification Ph.d / M.Sc./ M.Phil (Bioinformatics) With 1st division or 60% marks or equivalent overall grade point average with at least two years of research experience in the relevant subject.

Desirable qualification: Experience in Java/ C++/ PHP/ PERL/ Python etc. based application development using Linux, Apache and MySQL/Oracle.

Emoluments Rs.24000/- p.m. + 30% HRA for Ph.D holders / Rs.23000/- p.m. + 30% HRA for Master Degree holders A consolidated pay Rs.25000/- per month.

Age Limit Maximum 40 years for men and 45 years for women as on date of interview. Age limits are relaxable for SC / ST / OBC candidates as per rules. Maximum 40 years for men and 45 years for women as on date of interview. Age limits are relaxable for SC / ST / OBC candidates as per rules.

Eligible Candidates may appear for the Walk-in-interview with original Certificate of Ph.D. / Master’s / relevant degree, passport size photograph and bio-data enclosing attested copies of educational qualification & experience certificates. TA / DA will not be paid for attending the interview.

Advertisement: www.ciba.res.in/attachments/jobs/CABin-3006.pdf

Reach out to careers@medgenome.com with your detailed profile.

Educational Qualification: Candidate must possess a M.Sc. in Bioinformatics/ Biotechnology/ Computer Science/ Physics/ Chemistry or B.Tech. or M.Tech. in Bioinformatics/ Biotechnology/ Computer Science from a recognized University/ Institute with minimum 60% marks or equivalent CGPA for general category and for SC/ST/OBC relaxation will be given as per Govt. of India rules.

Fellowship: Rs 16,000/- (Rupees sixteen thousand) only + 10% HRA per month for NET/GATE/BET/BINC qualified candidates. Rs. 12,000/- (Rupees twelve thousand) only + 10% HRA per month for other candidates.

Duration: Initially for a period of six (06) months which may be extended depending upon status of the project or until further order, whichever is earlier.

Age: Candidate should not be more than 28 years of age on the date of interview. Upper age limit may be relaxed up to 5 years in the case of candidate belonging to SC/ ST /OBC /Women / Physically Challenged.

Interested candidates may send their application on plain paper by post along with his/her educational qualifications, recent passport/stamp size photograph and contact phone number to Dr. Anupam Nath Jha, Principal Investigator, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Napaam – 784028 or mail it to anjha@tezu.ernet.in within 20 days of publication of this advertisement.

Only shortlisted candidates will be informed by e-mail or phone for an interview. N.B. No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview. For further details contact: Dr. Anupam Nath Jha, Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Tezpur University, Napaam, Tezpur-784028 (Assam)

Advertisement: www.tezu.ernet.in/ProjectWalkin/Advt-ANJ-5323-A.pdf

RA / Research Associate (Bioinformatics/Computational Biologist)
Salary: Rs. 23000/- + HRA
Vacancy: 1
Essential Qualifications: PhD, preferably in plant biotechnology/biochemistry/Bioinformatics with experience in analyzing high throughput omics-based data. Desired Skills: Prior experience in handling and guiding bioinformatics, metabolomics data, managing the project portal, preparing and filing reports etc. Will be expected to communicate with user groups and coordinate with LIMS group in Hyderabad and the Cheminformatics group in Delhi.

Address: Prof Indira Ghosh, room #12 Project Investigator, (Core Metabolomics) School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110 067.

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Last Date: March 3rd 2015
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