More Recent News
Beth Shapiro and the Hunt for the Oldest DNA
DNA can tell us much more about extinct species than their fossil records alone, but because of how quickly DNA degrades, there have been limits on how far back in time researchers can go. UCSC professor Beth Shapiro and her colleagues are pushing those limits. Watch...
Protein designer awarded $2.5M to develop bioluminescent protein for deep tissue imaging
Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Andy Yeh, who was awarded a nearly $2.5 million grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to develop completely artificial enzymes that can produce bioluminescence in the body for deep tissue imaging.
PBS’s ‘Easter Island Origins’ explores surprising genetic research to help tell the story of the Rapa Nui people
Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is famous for its moʻai, giant human-like figures carved out of stone that can weigh more than 80 tons. It is an island with a rich history that has been communicated over the generations through oral histories and hundreds of archeological sites, and now UC Santa Cruz Assistant Professor Alexander Ioannidis is using DNA to find new insights into the island’s prehistoric origins.
Bioelectronics enable precise control on organoids for better understanding of neuro diseases, neuron circuits
Cortical organoids, which are miniature three-dimensional models of brain tissue grown from stem cells, offer scientists a sophisticated and accurate model to better understand how neurons control brain functioning — but researchers are still developing methods to perform precise experiments on these delicate models.
Terrie Williams receives prestigious medal from NAS
Congratulations to UCSC Genomics Institute affiliate Terrie M. Williams, winner of the 2024 NAS Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal for seminal work on the ecological physiology of large mammals!
Insights from UCSC-made COVID-19 tracking tool will guide the future of studying pathogens in real time
UShER, a software developed at UC Santa Cruz to map the genomic evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is the most widely used tool for tracking COVID-19 worldwide. A new paper from the tool’s creators outlines the “game-time” decisions…
UCSC joins as founding member of new Action Collaborative to improve pathways for women of color in tech education and careers
Genomics Institute affiliate Sri Kurniawan, Professor of Computational Media at the Baskin School of Engineering, is serving as UCSC’s senior faculty lead for this effort. As a founding member of the Action Collaborative, UCSC has already committed to four years of membership.
The genes that made us truly human may also make us ill
The changes in our genes since our ancestors and apes evolved from a common ancestor helped us develop bigger brains and upright walking. But did they also have a downside?
Cloud technologies bring organoids into undergraduate classrooms for the first time
Cortical organoids — miniature models of brain tissue grown from stem cells — are becoming increasingly relevant in biotechnology for their usefulness in drug discovery, the study of infectious disease, and more. But the tiny organ models are very tricky to grow and maintain in the lab, meaning many students majoring in biotech-related fields enter the workforce or advanced degree programs without experience working with organoids.
Indigenous scientists awarded $9M to establish the first RADx Tribal data repository that upholds Indigenous data sovereignty
Today, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced $9 million in funding for an Indigenous Data Repository led by Native scientists to help improve health in tribal communities and for all Indigenous Peoples. UCSC Genomics Institute Assistant Researcher Ann Mc Cartney will work alongside the Indigenous leaders on this project.