October 8, 2026
October 8, 2026 —
UC San Diego biologists have unraveled the genetic adaptation that gave butterflies the ability to see rich, vivid color in their environment. The genetic change produces an additional photoreceptor that expands color vision for locating nectar and other butterflies.
September 23, 2026
September 23, 2026 —
A new study shows that fish swimming in schools can avoid danger just by seeing their neighbors escape. UC San Diego researchers studied how individuals identify their social partners’ actions by imaging the brain activity of translucent glassfish swimming in a virtual reality environment.
August 26, 2026
August 26, 2026 —
Scientists have developed a new understanding of how fish interact as they school in groups. Fish were found to copy their neighbors to align their movements within schools. The discovery opens a door to examining how the brains of individuals interact to produce group-level collective behavior.
August 21, 2026
August 21, 2026 —
Scientists have revealed the DNA identity of the “initiator,” a crucial sequence that kickstarts gene activation. AI analysis of a half million data points deciphered the initiator’s identity. Researchers can use the new information to scan for mutations that may lead to diseases such as cancer.
August 19, 2026
August 19, 2026 —
A UC San Diego alumnus and his Nobel Prize-winning rule in a game-changing discovery.
August 11, 2026
August 11, 2026 —
New World screwworm flies, highly destructive parasitic insects, have returned to parts of the U.S. and pose a significant danger. Professor Omar Akbari discusses how the insect was eliminated in the past and the ways new genetics technologies could help combat today’s threat.
August 11, 2026
August 11, 2026 —
New World screwworm flies, highly destructive parasitic insects, have returned to parts of the U.S. and pose a significant danger. Professor Omar Akbari of UC San Diego's Department of Cell and Developmental Biology discusses how the insect was eliminated in the past and the ways new genetics technologies could help control today’s threat.
August 5, 2026
August 5, 2026 —
Susumu Tonegawa, who made key contributions to immunology and neurobiology and became UC San Diego’s first alumnus to receive a Nobel Prize, passed away on July 11. His research resolved a long-standing puzzle about how the immune system generates millions of antibodies from a small set of genes.
July 27, 2026
July 27, 2026 —
Uri Manor, inaugural faculty director of the Goeddel Family Technology Sandbox, is using advanced instruments to study Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a debilitating genetic neurological disorder. Such advancements are offering hope for six-year-old Jeremy and others who suffer from the disease.
