galosgann

I presume it can be just amplified from the gDNA with appropriate primers, subcloned and sequenced (in case of people interested more in luciferases rather than the whole genome). E. g., I've amplified Lampyris noctiluca luc (cDNA, gDNA) some time ago (GenBank: KU756583.1).

Can you share the sequence to include in phylogenetic trees? Was it submitted to GenBank? I guess Yuichi Oba & John Day will be interested to hear that it actually exists in Photinus (maybe then in Lampyrids too). Have you looked at its enzymatic properties?

So Photinus does have a second luciferase gene? Is it from the same clade as Luc2 in Luciola/Photuris (http://forumbgz.ru/user/upload/file33419.gif) or some other?

According to the recent pre-DSc seminar of Ilia Yampolsky, he and his collaborators already have genomes and transcriptomes of Fridericia heliota (and fungi). Lets hope they will tell more on the biosynthesis of their luciferins in the future.

"With a high-quality Photinus pyralis reference genome in hand, it may be feassible to assemble genomes of other firefly species" Will there be problems with genome rearrangements and overall genome size differences?

How does Pontoscolex corethrurus reflect human migrations?

Extremophilic worms can be used as a source of novel AntiMicrobial Peptides. BTW, for those interested to do it as a PhD project: http://dsbsoc.org/indeep/phd-position-antibiotics-in-extremophile-nematode-worms-france/ Also, there is a possibility that such studies will eventually allow to make humans more resistant to extreme environments. Although, this is more of a sci-fi at the moment.

The upper limit for animals seems to be around 50°C. Some fungi can be more heat tolerant: for example, Chaetomium thermophilum can grow at up to 60°C (optimum - 50–55°C) and holds great promise for structural biology (http://www.nature.com/articles/srep20937). "The thermal limit for metazoan life, expected to be around 50°C, has been debated since the discovery of the Pompeii worm Alvinella pompejana, which colonizes black smoker chimney walls at deep-sea vents. A comparison with hsp70 stress gene expressions of individuals analysed directly after sampling in situ confirms that Alvinella pompejana does not experience long-term exposures to temperature above 50°C in its natural environment. The thermal optimum is nevertheless beyond 42°C, which confirms that the Pompeii worm ranks among the most thermotolerant metazoans." "A. pompejana ranks among the most thermotolerant metazoan species. Interspecies comparisons for thermal limit/tolerance remain however a difficult issue, due to the variety of indexes and protocols used to evaluate the animals’ thermal scope. The highest thermal tolerance limits estimated for any animal were previously reported in the hot springs ostracod Potamocypris sp., which survived prolonged exposures to 49°C [24], and in the desert ants Cataglyphis bombycina and Cataglyphis bicolor based on their critical maximum temperature (CTmax 55°C and 54°C [25]). More recently, the alvinellid Paralvinella sulfincola was proven highly thermotolerant based on its preference for temperatures in the 40°–50°C zone and its ability to withstand short exposures at 55°C (thermal limit 50–55°C [17], [18]). A. pompejana can be suggested to share a similar thermal preference with the alvinellid P. sulfincola, and clearly has a shifted stress response to higher temperatures when compared to the desert ants. The ant response reached its highest point at 37°C and ended around 45°C [25] while A. pompejana should yield its highest expression in the 42°C–55°C range." http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064074

I wonder what maximum temperatures some reptiles can withstand in hot deserts. Are there some interesting animals there too?

I'm curious: is it possible to investigate the genetics of color phenotypes on Alpaca's cells lines?

I'd bet they have an enhanced chaperone machinery rather than thermostabilized proteins.

I also hope someone will develop an affordable technology to fuse the skeleton with adamantium.