Cannabis sativaWIKIMEDIA COMMONS
High time for pot plants
Species: The marijuana plants Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indicaGenome size: Around 400 million base pairsInteresting fact: The marijuana plant is most well known for the high produced by THC, its active ingredient, which binds to cannabinoid receptors in the body. But Cannabis contains dozens of other active compounds, some of which are being studied as potential treatments for cancer and inflammation. Researchers at Medicinal Genomics hope that sequencing the entire genome will allow them to pinpoint therapeutic compounds while removing the psychoactive effects of THC.
Secret fungus unearthed
Species: Archaeorhizomyces finlayiGenome size: UnknownInteresting fact: The mysterious fungus, called Soil Clone Group 1 permeates the soil, but until now no one had isolated or sequenced it. Earlier this month, researchers sequenced ...
