Category: Uncategorized

The Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA) holds its Sixth conference and workshop in beautiful Borocay, Philippines, July 6 – 10, 2026

by Chrome Multiplier

In spite of war time fuel price hikes affecting the much of the world, long travel distances and imminent monsoon season, close to 70 researchers from at least 14 different countries converged on the small scenic island of Borocay to discuss the latest advances in genomic science that would impact aquatic marine invertebrate biology (https://gigavi.org/). … Continue reading The Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA) holds its Sixth conference and workshop in beautiful Borocay, Philippines, July 6 – 10, 2026

A Special NSU Commencement Season with “Oceans” and Marine Speakers at the Forefront

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It is graduation season again, and a time of great joy for students and their families. We had a few students in the MMG Lab cross over this year (e.g. Pari Cribbins, Kennedie Cockrell), or at least attend commencement. Another enjoyable aspect of commencements (8 total NSU events) was having visits and hearing inspirational speeches … Continue reading A Special NSU Commencement Season with “Oceans” and Marine Speakers at the Forefront

New Chapter on Microbial Biomarkers Published in Book, Microbial Alchemy, with Brazilian Collaborators

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In 2016 Dr. Lopez was approached by an enterprising Brazilian scientist (Elisamara Sabadini Santos) and her motivated student (Juliana Nascimento) to start a collaboration on characterizing the role of microbiomes in polluted urban habitats. This led to a study of pollution and remediation in heavily industrialized and polluted sediments of Guanabara Bay in Brazil. This … Continue reading New Chapter on Microbial Biomarkers Published in Book, Microbial Alchemy, with Brazilian Collaborators

Sequencing of the Whole Genome of the Caribbean Sea Fan Gorgonia ventalina, and its Mitochondrial Genome now completed

by Chrome Multiplier

If you have ever been snorkeling or diving in S. Florida or Caribbean waters, the sight of a flat lilac or purple sea creature swaying upright with the surf and tide on the ocean floor probably caught your attention. You may not have paid it a second thought, but the common sea “fan”, looks just … Continue reading Sequencing of the Whole Genome of the Caribbean Sea Fan Gorgonia ventalina, and its Mitochondrial Genome now completed

Undersea revisited

by Chrome Multiplier

In the 1937 Atlantic article, “Undersea“, Rachel Carson has a way with words and described the benthos before SCUBA was invented, and the Challenger deep descended. I should have cited this piece in my book, Assessments and Conservation of Biological Diversity from Coral Reefs to the Deep Sea: Uncovering Buried Treasures and the Value of … Continue reading Undersea revisited

Seeing is better understanding, especially in the deepest oceans

by Chrome Multiplier

Interesting call for more visualizations of the ocean depths. I mused about the need and general wish to have round-the-clock monitoring of the deep sea in my book, Assessments and Conservation of Biological Diversity from Coral Reefs to the Deep Sea:Uncovering Buried Treasures and the Value of the Benthos. Photo credit – A predatory Actinostola sea anemone, … Continue reading Seeing is better understanding, especially in the deepest oceans

The GIGA VI Conference website opens with a questionnaire

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The Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA) is happy to announce that the official GIGA VI conference website is now open for everyone to view, and answer a quick survey. We want to get a sense of who is interested before the science program gets set. So please fill out and pass the meeting page along … Continue reading The GIGA VI Conference website opens with a questionnaire

Masters thesis on coral eDNA study completed by Pari Cribbins

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We are happy to announce that Pari Cribbins successfully defended her thesis entitled, “eDNA Surveys for the Critically Endangered Caribbean Staghorn Coral, Acropora cervicornis (Lamarck, 1816).” This represents our lab’s first full foray into eukaryotic environemental DNA work. Funded by the Brian Keller Foundation Pari has helped develop eDNA methods for rare species, and chose … Continue reading Masters thesis on coral eDNA study completed by Pari Cribbins

Understanding Life: Using Largescale Biodiversity Reference Genomes Conference wraps up in the UK

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The “Understanding Life: Using Largescale Biodiversity Reference Genomes” conference occurred at the Frederick Sanger Center this past week. The Hinxton countryside and autumn weather provided an optimal setting for the attendees. The Sanger Center hosts were very “wellcoming”, and the genomics topics were wide-ranging, similar to a large evolution meeting, with engaging plenary and early … Continue reading Understanding Life: Using Largescale Biodiversity Reference Genomes Conference wraps up in the UK

Octocoral bleaching on local S. Florida reefs is consistent with current global events

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PI Lopez was interviewed by the Miami Herald , WMNF radio and NBC Miami to discuss the current bleaching along reefs of the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve (KJCAP). In conjunction with National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) colleagues, Ronen Liberman and Nick Jones, a bleaching watch has been in effect ever since the extreme 2023 … Continue reading Octocoral bleaching on local S. Florida reefs is consistent with current global events