New research documents otter recolonisation in northwest Himalaya while highlighting pressing conservation barriers for this near‑threatened semi‑aquatic mammal.

Interpretable deep learning network quantifies dominant predictors of 24-hour tropical cyclone intensity change

Genomes provide a fundamental basis for understanding biological systems. Rapid advances in sequencing technologies and assembly algorithms have moved genome research from chromosome-level references toward telomere-to-telomere (T2T) and haplotype-resolved assemblies. Yet a fundamental question remains: What makes a genome truly high quality?

A field‑based study reveals that mycorrhizal association and life form act as decoupled drivers governing functional trait syndromes in temperate woody species of the Qinling Mountains.

This review elaborates how environmental nucleic acids shift ecological biomonitoring from static state snapshots toward trajectory-centered assessment to support adaptive environmental management.

Most plants pack their centromere into a single region of each chromosome, but a few Magnoliales species instead spread centromeric function along the entire chromosome. To understand the genomic basis of this difference, a research team from Northeast Forestry University and BGI Research assembled chromosome-level genomes for the holocentric species Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) and the monocentric species Cananga odorata (ylang-ylang), and compared them using integrated multi-omics analyses. The study was published in Journal of Systematics and Evolution.

Endosymbionts are widely distributed across various cell types in insects and are transmitted primarily vertically, while also spreading among different hosts through horizontal transmission. Functionally, they can be divided into obligate (primary) and facultative (secondary) endosymbionts. Obligate endosymbionts are essential for host survival, supporting growth, development, and stress resistance by synthesizing key nutrients such as amino acids and vitamins. Although facultative endosymbionts are not required for survival, they influence host phenotypes through reproductive manipulation, immune regulation, and environmental adaptation. The two types are functionally complementary, jointly meeting the host’s core needs in nutrient acquisition, reproductive strategies, and environmental adaptation.

Canavalia gladiata, commonly known as sword bean, is a leguminous crop with high seed protein content (26%–30%) and oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids. Despite its nutritional promise, the species has remained underutilized, largely because a complete genome and the genetic basis of its nutritional traits were lacking. Now, a research team from Yunnan University and BGI Research (Wuhan) has assembled the first gap-free telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome of C. gladiata, combined with integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of developing seeds. The study was published in Journal of Systematics and Evolution.

Global warming could make "east-dominated" Indian Ocean Dipole events 80% more frequent