CGC1, a new reference genome for .

The original 100.3 Mb reference genome for , generated from the wild-type laboratory strain N2, has been crucial for analysis of since 1998 and has been considered complete since 2005. Unexpectedly, this long-standing reference was shown to be incomplete in 2019 by a genome assembly from the N2-derived strain VC2010.

Viroid-like colonists of human microbiomes.

Here, we describe "obelisks," a class of heritable RNA elements sharing several properties: (1) apparently circular RNA ∼1 kb genome assemblies, (2) predicted rod-like genome-wide secondary structures, and (3) open reading frames encoding a novel "Oblin" protein superfamily. A subset of obelisks includes a variant hammerhead self-cleaving ribozyme. Obelisks form their own phylogenetic group without detectable similarity to known biological agents.

A genetic and microscopy toolkit for manipulating and monitoring regeneration in Macrostomum lignano.

Live imaging of regenerative processes can reveal how animals restore their bodies after injury through a cascade of dynamic cellular events. Here, we present a comprehensive toolkit for live imaging of tissue regeneration in the flatworm Macrostomum lignano, including a high-throughput cloning pipeline, targeted cellular ablation, and advanced microscopy solutions. Using tissue-specific reporter expression, we examine how various structures regenerate.

Parallel gene size and isoform expansion of ancient neuronal genes.

How nervous systems evolved is a central question in biology. A diversity of synaptic proteins is thought to play a central role in the formation of specific synapses leading to nervous system complexity. The largest animal genes, often spanning hundreds of thousands of base pairs, are known to be enriched for expression in neurons at synapses and are frequently mutated or misregulated in neurological disorders and diseases.