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For the first time, the complete genome of a scarlet macaw has been sequenced, under the direction of genetics researcher Christopher Seabury and veterinarian Ian Tizard at the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. With only 1 billion DNA bases, the scarlet macaw's genome contains only one-third the amount of DNA in mammals, researchers said. The genome will help scientists study other species and may provide insights for avian conservation.

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Texas veterinarian Matt Carriker is using his video production skills and YouTube experience to raise money that pays for treatments for injured or ill animals surrendered to San Antonio Pets Alive. Dr. Carriker created a YouTube channel that chronicles the lives of the shelter animals he treats, making them more likely to be adopted. Revenue from the videos goes toward the treatments.

The large snail a Houston resident found recently wasn't a giant African snail after all, according to state invertebrate biologist Michael Warriner. Rather, it was the similar-in-appearance rosy wolf snail. That's good news for Texans because the rosy wolf snail doesn't carry the potentially deadly zoonotic parasite transmitted by the African snail, which has posed problems in Florida. Officials said the panic that spread over the case of mistaken identity was not a bad thing. "It is fantastic people are alerting local and state officials when they see something suspicious," said Tanya Espinosa of the USDA.

University of Arizona professor Donald Lightner runs the university's shrimp pathology center, studying little-known diseases to help shrimp farmers globally and help ensure the quality of the $4 billion worth of shrimp imported to the U.S. every year. Zoonosis isn't a major concern with shrimp, but Lightner and his team study husbandry practices and shrimp diseases such as the bacterial early mortality syndrome, which is negatively affecting Southeast Asian shrimp farmers. Lightner says discovering something new is the highlight of his work.

The Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer is conducting a study to assess whether a modified hepatitis vaccine can destroy canine cancer cells. Twenty owned dogs with osteosarcoma that have not yet undergone limb amputation will be involved in the study. Researchers hope to use the technique to treat numerous types of cancer in dogs and humans. "Dogs get skin cancer, dogs get blood cancers that are similar to human cancers, dogs get brain cancers ... similar to human cancers ... so what we learn in dogs is very applicable to humans," said veterinarian Bruce Smith, who directs the initiative.

If you're planning to sell your business, it's important to figure out how attractive it is to buyers and make adjustments where necessary, writes Curtis Kroeker. Your business may be easier to sell if it is profitable and viable without you as the owner. Your timeline for making a sale will determine how much you can do to improve your operations and get the best possible price for your business.