Scientists have published the most comprehensive genome information to date for all three of the most troublesome agricultural weed species, marking a new era of scientific discovery toward potential solutions. Waterhemp, smooth pigweed, and Palmer amaranth impact crop production in the United States and around the world. All three genomes were assembled using advanced long-read sequencing, which maintains the integrity and continuity of the genome similar to the way large puzzle pieces provide a clearer picture of the whole than small pieces. In the assembly for Palmer amaranth, an additional sequencing technology (chromatin conformation capture sequencing) was used to further order pieces of the…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has denied media reports claiming it issued a red alert on security agencies over a purported terrorists’ attack in Abuja and neighbouring states. A supposed internal memo linked to the Service and released late last week, indicated that the terrorists were regrouping around Abuja, Kogi and Nasarawa States, all in North-central Nigeria. The controversial memo, purportedly signed by the Comptroller, Enforcement of NCS headquarters, H.A Sabo, disclosed that the terrorist group had camped in five prominent locations in Abuja, with plans to unleash terror on residents of the city. But in a telephone chat with PRNigeria,…
Animal biotechnology has been primed to contribute significantly towards addressing the challenge of food security, especially in the developing world. During a webinar organized by ISAAA AfriCenter, experts agreed that animal biotechnology is an inevitable part of the toolkit to address climate-related challenges. Prof. Steve Kemp, an animal geneticist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), underscored the importance of genetic selection in driving improvements in productivity. Prof. Kemp revealed how an ILRI project to develop trypanosomiasis-resistant cattle using biotechnology could transform the lives of smallholder farmers who depend on livestock. “African trypanosomiasis is an extremely important pathogen, and is estimated to cost about…
The research team led by professor Geung-Ju Lee of Chungnam National University and Toolgen announced that the new variety of petunia co-developed with CRISPR genome editing technology has been determined as non-GMO by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The decision was released under the “Am I Regulated?” program of the USDA. The program is designed to verify the presence of GMOs for crops developed with new breeding techniques such as CRISPR technology. The genome-edited petunia developed in South Korea is the first genome-edited petunia approved by the USDA. “We have succeeded in developing a new breed of petunia in pale pinky-purple color for…
A female prison guard, aged 26, has been arrested allegedly having sex with a rapist inmate in Pentonville Prison, north London. The Sun reports that a colleague claimed he found her with rapist Dimeck Amoura, 27. A source claimed they were caught red-handed and told The Sun: “They were actually entwined when staff found them. “Amoura’s a convicted sex offender, a really nasty character.” Amoura was jailed in 2012 for raping a 29-year-old trainee architect at knifepoint as she walked home in Nunhead, South East London. A Metropolitan Police spokesman told Mirror Online: “Police were called at 03:24hrs on Sunday,…
By Lyn Oyugi I, lyneoyugi@gmail.com Science journalists from 30 African countries will participate in a virtual pre-conference being organised by a media association and a leading conservation organization in Kenya. For one to participate in the event, registration must be done in advance at https://wwf.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5wJPZgBjSrGD-QEpSzs89A According to the Chairperson of the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA), Ms Violet Otindo, the network, which has a large foot print in African science journalism, is partnering with the World Wildlife Fund– Kenya to bring together nearly 200 journalists from African and beyond to discuss conservation, climate change, agriculture and health.…
The Niger Police Command, has confirmed that a petrol tanker, which was headed to Suleija from Minna skidded off the road and rammed into a Mosque at Lambata, Gurrara local government area of the state. The Police Commissioner, Mr Adamu Usman, who confirmed the incident state’s Commissioner of Police, comfirmed the incident on Monday, said the accident occurred at about 22:45 hours. and burnt several other properties. “52 lock shops by the road side and ten houses were razed. “We have since commenced investigation and warned truck drivers to desist from carrying people in truck as such vehicles are not…
The global COVID-19 caseload surpassed the milestone of 27 million, with the dead toll more than 882,000, according to U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. still ranks the first in the tally with a total number of more than 6.27 million infections and a death toll over 188,940. India surpassed Brail to become the world’s second-worst-hit country with its total caseload hitting more than 4.2 million, and its death toll reached 71,642. India is passing through the Unlock-4 phase after the pandemic hit the country over seven months ago. Over the past several weeks, the Asian country’s focus has been…
In its effort to adequately tackle cybercrime and cyber attack in Nigeria, the Federal government has upgraded facilities at the Computer Emergency Response and Readiness Team Centre under the supervision of the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami told the Economic Confidential in an interview, that apart from the upgrade, massive awareness creation about a potential threat is a major key to curb potential cyber-attack. He said: “If you want to reduce the gravity of cybersecurity threats, create awareness. Let the people controlling emergency centres know what they should…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 100 new cases of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19 ) in the country, bringing the total cases to 55,005. The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle, @NCDCgov on Sunday. The health agency said that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, have continued to coordinate the national response activities across the country. The agency said that three deaths were recorded in the country on Sunday. The NCDC said that so far 43,013 patients have been treated and discharged from its isolation centres across the country. It showed that the…