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News Archive - Biological Sciences

How Fear Unfolds inside Our Brains

March 14, 2024

The stress-induced mechanisms that cause our brain to produce feelings of fear in the absence of threats — such as in PTSD — mostly have been a mystery. Now, neurobiologists have identified the changes in brain biochemistry and mapped the neural circuitry that cause generalized fear experiences.

Study Illuminates the Protective Role of Fluorescence in Neon-Colored Sea Anemones

March 12, 2024

For the first time, a team of researchers at Stanford University and UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography has uncovered a direct genetic link between fluorescence and color in sea anemones — those soft and tentacled tide pool creatures often encountered by beachgoers.

Biological Sciences Professor Terrence Sejnowski Wins Brain Prize

March 5, 2024

Terrence Sejnowski has been selected to receive the 2024 Brain Prize, the world’s largest neuroscience prize, for his pioneering work in computational and theoretical neuroscience, contributions to our understanding of the brain and paving the way for the development of brain-inspired AI.

Three Early Career Faculty Members Selected to Receive Sloan Research Fellowships

February 22, 2024

UC San Diego Assistant Professors Vineet Augustine, Abdoulaye Ndao and Monique Smith have been selected to receive 2024 Sloan Research Fellowships. They are among 126 scientists chosen by the Sloan Foundation to receive one of the most prestigious awards for early career scientists.

Muscle as a Heart-Health Predictor

February 21, 2024

Study shows greater muscle area in men leads increased risk of heart disease; it’s different for muscle density.

Researchers Uncover Mechanisms behind Enigmatic Shapes of Nuclei

February 14, 2024

White blood cells known as neutrophils feature a nucleus that is structured strikingly different than most nuclei. These unique shapes permit neutrophils to travel all over the body to combat invading pathogens. Scientists have now deciphered the shapeshifting puzzle of the neutrophil nucleus.

Faulty DNA Disposal System Causes Inflammation

February 8, 2024

Each cell features mtDNA, instructions that mitochondria use to create energy. When mtDNA remains where it belongs, cells remain healthy. But when it goes where it doesn’t belong, mtDNA can initiate an immune response and inflammation. Scientists have discovered the pathways behind this process.

Extra Fingers and Hearts: Pinpointing Changes to Our Genetic Instructions That Disrupt Development

February 6, 2024

UC San Diego scientists have shown that they can now predict which single-letter changes to the DNA within our genomes will alter genetic instructions and disrupt development, leading to changes such as the growth of extra digits and hearts.

Chancellor Unveils New Award Program to Boost Team-Based Research

January 25, 2024

Chancellor’s Interdisciplinary Team Catalyst Awards aim to foster sustainable, interdisciplinary collaborations and to assist teams in developing tailored funding strategies for grand scientific and societal challenges.

UC San Diego’s Bioengineering Team Uses TSCC at SDSC for Bioinformatics Tool

January 22, 2024

Over 18 million people worldwide are annually diagnosed with cancer, with each case hiding many mutations in its genome. Understanding these mutations furthers cancer research, while also providing a deeper understanding to create possible cures, therapies and prevention strategies.
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