They are found only in Simlipal. A study finds out what gives them their darker stripe pattern— how this is the result of inbreeding within Simlipal’s small and isolated tiger population.

All mammals, for example harbour between 2 to 3.5 billion bits of data in every one of their cells.

The study published in journal of Molecular Biology and Evolution published on February 16 suggests that there is inbreeding among Indian tigers, which is a result of isolated populations due to habitat loss.

A new study reveals differences in the genomic history of tiger subspecies, pointing to the importance of understanding evolutionary history for future conservation 

A new study has found that while Indian tigers have a high amount of genetic variation, some individuals are inbred.

Researchers who were part of a new study that dealt with Tiger genomes, while

Scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore, have discovered how the Herpes virus escapes one of the defense mechanisms it encounters in its hosts. Cells infected by Herpes viruses bind the viral DNA with proteins called PML NBs (ProMyelocytic Leukemia protein Nuclear Bodies) to stop the production of viral proteins and stall virus reproduction. The viral DNA, however, escapes from its protein prison with the help of ICP0 (Infected Cell Polypeptide 0), a viral enzyme.

The study, published in Ecology and Evolution is co-authored by researchers at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru and senior forest officers of the Rajasthan Forest Department. The matrilineages were corroborated with the help of records of family trees maintained by the forest department.

In a recent study, researchers at NCBS led by Prof Ramakrishnan, in collaboration with those from Stanford University, USA, have proposed a cost-effective alternative for analysing DNA samples. “It takes advantage of newer sequencing technologies that can be used to process hundreds of samples in parallel,” says Dr Meghana Natesh, a researcher at NCBS.

Scientists have been using genetics to study wild animals for several years now. However, a new genetic method developed by a team, including scientists from Bengaluru’s National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), hopes to make studying as well as conserving wild species quicker, easier and cost-effective by deriving information from animal sources containing extremely low-quality DNA — including faeces and cooked meat.