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Wellcome Connecting Science | Graphic | Curious Nature

The majestic golden eagle has suffered from hunting and pesticide poisoning; it is now only found in parts of Scotland. Studying its genome will help improve breeding by limiting inbreeding and choosing birds to move to new habitats.

You might not have seen a lesser-spotted catshark but it’s likely that you’ve found mermaid’s purses on the beach – egg cases that wash up from the seabed. Sharks are important for studying the evolution of vertebrates like us; its genome will help this research. For many, blackberry picking is an end of summer tradition but soft fruit crops are a growing business, so understanding the plant’s genetics could help improve production.