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The discipline of classification and taxonomy involves the grouping of organisms into categories based on different properties including size, shape and gene sequences. Classification can help to identify evolutionary relationships among organisms.
Inspired by active learning approaches, we have developed a computational method that selects minimal gene sets capable of reliably identifying cell-types and transcriptional states in large sets of single-cell RNA-sequencing data. As the procedure focuses computational resources on poorly classified cells, active support vector machine (ActiveSVM) scales to data sets with over one million cells.
This month’s Genome Watch highlights the systematic discovery of defence systems, paving the way to decode novel genetic functions and further our understanding of microbial warfare.
A suite of new enzymes reveals more on how Nature breaks down plant-based polysaccharides and how these enzymes might be harnessed in the utilization of plant-based biomass.
Complementary genomic frameworks for taxonomic classification of viruses infecting bacteria and archaea reveal evolutionary drivers, mosaicism and perspective on the genetic diversity of the tiniest, most abundant biological entities on Earth.