Tree of Life

  • 29 April 2025

    Intergenerational insect investigators

    We explore how the Barcoding for Beginners programme and BIOSCAN project are using genetic tools to investigate insect diversity across the UK.

  • 25 October 20248.7 min read

    Creepy creatures reveal DNA secrets

    To get into the spirit of the spooky season, read about some curiously creepy creatures whose DNA has been sequenced by researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

  • The Darwin Tree of Life Project and the Earth BioGenome Project are aiming to sequence all animals, birds, fish, insects and plants in the UK and on earth, respectively
    1 November 20185.3 min read

    Sequencing All Life On Earth – Facts and Figures

    Scientists have announced an ambitious goal to sequence all of life on earth. Here are 10 top facts that help to put the scale of the challenge into perspective…

  • The Darwin Tree of Life Project and the Earth BioGenome Project are aiming to sequence all animals, birds, fish, insects and plants in the UK and on earth, respectively
    1 November 20187.1 min read

    The quest to sequence all life

    What will reading the genomes of all life on earth uncover? And how does the Sanger Institute intend to lead the sequencing of an estimated 60,000 species in the UK? Associate Director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute Julia Wilson talks about this ambitious project

  • 29 October 20184.2 min read

    Long live bats

    The bat genome sequence could help us understand how these remarkable creatures are are reisitant to cancer, Ebola and SARS.

  • 25 Genomes: The Common Starfish. Image credit: Ray Crundwell
    4 October 20183.4 min read

    25 Genomes: The Common Starfish

    The Starfish genome could offer new approaches to wound healing and into surgical glue, if only we can get enough sperm.

  • 10 surprises from sequencing 25 new species
    4 October 20185.3 min read

    10 surprises from sequencing 25 new species

    From exploding worms to cannibal crickets and adored arachnids to bewildering blackberries, Alison Cranage picks out the more bizarre discoveries we've made

  • 25 September 20185.8 min read

    25 Genomes at New Scientist Live

    Alongside robots, slime and VR machines, Sanger researchers were at New Scientist Live last week – talking genomes, Alison Cranage reports