You often hear about scientists using DNA to answer important questions, but have you ever wondered how they get it? DNA extraction is at the heart of Ocean Genome Legacy's (OGL) mission, and it can be done with household ingredients! This past April, OGL staff taught...
Effective sampling is one of the biggest challenges for field biologists around the world--particularly for marine biologists who need to take samples in hard-to-access environments. These issues are compounded when researchers study species that are protected and...
Each year Northeastern University's Three Seas Masters of Science in Marine Biology students travel to the Gulf of Maine, the Salish Sea, and the Caribbean to learn firsthand what it takes to be a marine biologist. But they don't just come to...
Did you know that the largest bony fish in the world is a sunfish? Not the little orange-bellied “sunnies” that you find in your neighborhood ponds, but the giant ocean sunfish, Mola mola. Ocean sunfish can grow six to 10 feet long and weigh two to four tons! These...
Correctly identifying a fish to its species is an important skill for any young biologist to develop. In March, Ocean Genome Legacy taught students to do just that with its “Fish Forensics” workshops at the Boston High School Marine Science Symposium and the North...
“Discovering a new genus is rare and should be celebrated.” So says Ocean Genome Legacy (OGL) Postdoctoral Research Scientist Reuben Shipway in the video abstract for his new publication in the journal PeerJ. Meet the new genus of shipworm: Tamilokus mabinia. Image...
For the past two years, OGL has had a secret. Our scientists have been quietly working with the New York State Office of the Attorney General to develop a DNA-based seafood monitoring program - the first such program to be conducted by a government organization in the...
Have you ever wondered whether the fish on your plate is really the species listed on the menu? Once a fish is filleted it can be very hard to tell. Unscrupulous, or simply uniformed, fishermen, distributors, grocers and chefs mislabel seafood to the tune of millions...
When you imagine the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, you probably think about ice and penguins. You may not realize that there are astounding species that thrive in these cold, stable, oxygen-rich waters. We are pleased to announce that Ocean Genome Legacy...
In the past year, Ocean Genome Legacy (OGL) has been recruiting people from all walks of life to help document and preserve the deep offerings of our oceans. On September 10, you can too! OGL co-hosted Bioblitzes across the country with citizen scientists and future...