Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Parrot Sanctuary Instruction: Volunteer Training, Parrot Owner Coaching, and Psittaciformes Outreach Education

In the decades since 1974 when the ban on the importation of wild parrots was implemented, the domestic breeding of these birds has taken over. The long lifespans of these birds have resulted in many outliving their owners. In captivity parrots are living longer due to advances made in avian medicine and diet. Longevity combined with the cost and the physical and emotional needs of these birds has created a population of unwanted birds. Each year the number of parrots in need of a home has only increased. Rescues and sanctuaries numbered in the single digits in the 1990s. With the number of rescues and sanctuaries increasing each year (Hoppes & Gray, 2010) the need for volunteers and staff grows with them. The author created training on identifications of the Psitticiformes order, the history of avian rescue and its importance, rules for working with the birds and staff of The Rescue, and instruction on the analysis of prospective adopters to identify qualified and experienced homes. A free-standing module for parrot owners deciding whether to surrender their bird was also created. Whether an experienced parrot owner or a first-time volunteer with no prior bird knowledge this course is designed for both