April 23, 2024

Head and shoulders above other genome sequences

Just a bit of flaky news for genetics buffs: Proctor & Gamble has sequenced the complete genome for a fungus that causes dandruff. In an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, P&G scientists say that their work could help fight dandruff and a range of other skin conditions. In the course of their research they also managed to grow 10 litres of the fungus, Malassezia globosa — enough to give 10 million people a very bad hair day.