“This is a big surprise given what was previously thought about the species. … Instead of numbering in the 12,000 to 15,000 as was previously assumed and suggested, we think that the population in the western north Atlantic was much smaller, perhaps numbering a few thousand.”

Brenna McLeod, of Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, comments on research showing that North Atlantic right whales were not decimated by hunters (BBC).

“We knew something went wrong, terribly wrong.”

Seth Moore, director of biology for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, explains that eight moose had to be recaptured after being fitted with satellite collars, after the tracking devices malfunctioned (Duluth News Tribune).

“There was a time that only guys in white labcoats had the credentials and training to operate computers. Nowadays, we’re all experts to some degree. This is happening in genetics too.”

Jason Bobe, co-organizer of the GET conference, is hoping to get nearly everyone who has had their entire genome sequenced to meet at his Boston conference (Wired).