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News Archive - Biological Sciences

Through the Lens of the Natural World

August 1, 2023

UC San Diego alum Brandon Güell recently was recognized in the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for “Treefrog Pool Party,” a stunning photo that showcases his mastery of capturing rare moments in nature.

Fly Toolkit Created for Investigating COVID-19 Infection Mechanisms

July 21, 2023

Researchers have created a resource for analyzing how viruses infect human cells. The fruit fly-based toolkit provides a shortcut for assessing SARS-CoV-2 genes and understanding how they interact with human proteins, offering researchers a resource for new COVID-related drug therapies.

Queer Identity Empowers UC San Diego Scientists to Challenge Norms, Chart New Discoveries

July 6, 2023

Whether they're engineers, climate scientists or neurobiologists, researchers at UC San Diego say their LGBTQ+ identity makes them better scientists.

New Insight into How Plant Cells Divide

July 6, 2023

Plant and animal stem cells both rely on the cytoskeleton to divide properly, but a new study finds that they use them in opposite ways—while animal cells pull on the cytoskeleton, plant cells push it away. Harnessing that action could help scientists engineer more resilient plants.

New Genetic Technology Developed to Halt Malaria-Spreading Mosquitoes

July 5, 2023

Using CRISPR technology, UC San Diego scientists have engineered a new way to genetically suppress populations of Anopheles gambiae, the mosquitoes that primarily spread malaria in Africa and contribute to economic poverty in affected regions.

Plants Pollinated by Honey Bees Produce Lower-quality Offspring

June 28, 2023

In a first-of-its-kind comparison, UC San Diego scientists have shown that pollination by honey bees, which are not native to the Americas, produces offspring of considerably inferior quality (lower fitness) than offspring resulting from native pollinators.

Researchers Find an Immune System ‘Trip Wire’ That Detects COVID-19

June 8, 2023

Biologists have identified a previously unknown way that our immune system detects viruses. The immune protein CARD8 acts as a trip wire to detect a range of viruses, including the virus that causes COVID. They also found that CARD8 functions differently among species and varies between humans.

Rethink, Rewrite, Redefine—How Biodegradable Plastics Are Reshaping Sustainability

June 1, 2023

Researchers at UC San Diego have spent many years developing a biodegradable plastic alternative made from algae. A new book, published by Elsevier, details the basic science of creating bio-based polymers, lifecycle assessments and a techno-economic analysis.

Groundbreaking Images of Root Chemicals Offer New Insights on Plant Growth

May 24, 2023

Applying imaging technology to plant roots, researchers have developed a new understanding of chemicals that are responsible for plant growth. The chemical “roadmap” identifies where key molecules are distributed along corn roots and how their placement factors into the plant’s maturation.

$2.5M Gift Targets Gaps in Circadian Biology and Medicine

May 23, 2023

A $2.5 million initiative supported by philanthropists Irwin and Joan Jacobs has created the Stuart and Barbara L. Brody Endowed Chair in Circadian Biology and Medicine, along with a supporting research fund, to target largely unexplored areas related to circadian biology and patient health.
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