September 25, 2017
September 25, 2017 —
Freshwater planarians, found around the world and commonly known as “flatworms,” are famous for their regenerative prowess. Through a process called “fission,” planarians can reproduce asexually by simply tearing themselves into two pieces— a head and a tail—which then go on to form two new worms within about a week.
September 21, 2017
September 21, 2017 —
Scientists have found that ignored pieces of DNA play a critical role in the development of immune cells called T cells. These areas activate a change in the 3D structure of DNA that brings together crucial elements necessary for T cell formation. This “big bang” discovery may be unfolding throughout the animal and plant kingdoms as well as aid in combating diseases such as lymphoma and leukemia.
August 30, 2017
August 30, 2017 —
Scientists have long known about such animal kinship attachments, some known as “imprinting,” but the mechanisms underlying them have been hidden in a black box at the cellular and molecular levels. Now, biologists at the University of California San Diego have unlocked key elements of these mysteries, with implications for understanding social attraction and aversion in a range of animals and humans.
August 7, 2017
August 7, 2017 —
Scientists at UC San Diego have provided the first evidence that lysosomes, specialized structures found in nearly every cell in your body, can travel to distant parts of neurons to branch-like areas known as dendrites. Lysosomes help keep balance in the brain by removing material that is no longer needed, a key function that could be associated with disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
July 19, 2017
July 19, 2017 —
DARPA has selected a team that includes UC San Diego scientists to study an innovative genetic research technique as a way to control disease-causing mosquitoes. The project, which will receive up to $14.9 million, will focus on a technique known as gene drive, which can spread desirable genes in wild populations and suppress harmful organisms.
July 17, 2017
July 17, 2017 —
Scientists have linked specific wiring in the brain to distinct behavioral symptoms of depression. In a study published in Cell, researchers at UC San Diego found brain circuits tied to feelings of despair and helplessness and were able to alleviate and even reverse such symptoms in mice studies.
June 15, 2017
June 15, 2017 —
The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced that Rachel Dutton and Elizabeth Villa, researchers in UC San Diego’s Division of Biological Sciences, have been selected as Pew scholars in biomedical sciences.
May 11, 2017
May 11, 2017 —
Climate change is altering the environment in Yellowstone National Park and its surrounding region and scientists at UC San Diego and Unity College are studying its impacts on the diets of threatened grizzly bears.
May 4, 2017
May 4, 2017 —
Scientists have successfully completed the first outdoor field trial sanctioned by the EPA for genetically engineered algae. Algae tested under real-world conditions in outdoor ponds demonstrated that genetically engineered strains can be successfully cultivated outdoors without adversely impacting native algae populations.
April 26, 2017
April 26, 2017 —
Biologists at UC San Diego have provided the first evidence that a widely used pesticide can significantly impair the ability of otherwise healthy honey bees to fly. The study, which employed a specially constructed bee “flight mill,” raises concerns about how pesticides affect the honey bees’ capacity to pollinate and long-term effects on the health of honey bee colonies.
