September 18, 2020
September 18, 2020 —
Addressing concerns about gene-drive releases in the wild, UC San Diego scientists and their colleagues have developed two new genetic systems that halt or eliminate gene drives after release. The details are published in the journal Molecular Cell.
September 9, 2020
September 9, 2020 —
With the aid of artificial intelligence, UC San Diego scientists have solved a long-standing puzzle in human gene activation. The discovery described in the journal Nature could be used to control gene activation in biotechnology and biomedical applications.
August 26, 2020
August 26, 2020 —
Molecules known as tRNAs are often overlooked in study of disease processes. Researchers have now found that a mutation in a tRNA gene called n-Tr20—expressed only in the brain—can disrupt the landscape of entire cells, leading to chain reactions that alter brain function and behavior.
August 19, 2020
August 19, 2020 —
An elusive protein that many consider the key of fully understanding the causes of genetic Parkinson’s disease has come much more clearly into focus. Impacting millions around the world, Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder that progressively attacks motor functions.
August 19, 2020
August 19, 2020 —
An elusive protein that many consider the key of fully understanding the causes of genetic Parkinson’s disease has come much more clearly into focus. Impacting millions around the world, Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder that progressively attacks motor functions.
August 18, 2020
August 18, 2020 —
What are the boundaries of natural selection? Research published in PNAS shows that even natural selection has a tough time optimizing performance simultaneously across multiple components of the cell. They call the concept "evolutionary stalling."
July 21, 2020
July 21, 2020 —
Researchers investigating the ways that plants protect themselves—from insects to pathogens—have discovered an “on-off” switch that controls plant defensive mechanisms. The finding lays the groundwork for improved plant disease resistance and food stability.
July 16, 2020
July 16, 2020 —
Scientists have unraveled key mechanisms behind the mysteries of aging. They isolated two paths that cells travel during aging and engineered a new way to genetically program these aging routes. The researchers also identified a master circuit that guides the aging processes.
June 15, 2020
June 15, 2020 —
The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced that Sonya Neal, an assistant professor in the University of California San Diego Division of Biological Sciences, has been selected to join the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences.
June 11, 2020
June 11, 2020 —
A new study offers perspectives on the ecological and economic impact of sea otters. Comparing regions with and without otters reveals contrasts in kelp forests, fish, urchins, carbon and tourism. The study’s results indicate the economic benefits of having otters present outweigh the costs.
