Sexual determination and differentiation work in myriad ways across the animal kingdom. In vertebrates, like mammals and fish, sexual determination leads to the development of either ovaries or testis. These organs then secrete hormones that go on to govern the sexual development of the rest of the organism’s body. Insects are a completely different beast.
In order to generate energy, our bodies transfer electrons from food—sugars, fats and proteins—to molecular oxygen, which allows our cells to respire and function. Performed by the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), this process creates ATP, the “molecular currency” for energy in the cell. In a Molecular Cell study, Assistant Professor James Letts, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and colleagues reveal further nuances of the ETC.
In a new study appearing in Nature Cell Biology, UC Davis researchers found that tau molecules can congregate together in a novel, reversible way, which appears to be distinct from the irreversible tangle formation observed in neurodegenerative diseases.
Thanks to a roughly 5-year, $850,000 CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation, Assistant Professor Gerald Quon will develop next-generation computational tools that will allow researchers to better understand and analyze single-cell genomic data.
Professor Paul Knoepfler, UC Davis Genome Center, studies the epigenetic and transcriptional control mechanisms that direct stem cell fate and tissue growth. He's also a writer, recently co-authoring the book How to Build a Dragon or Die Trying: A Satirical Look at Cutting-Edge Science with his daughter Julie Knoepfler. Helen Pilcher recently reviewed the book in Nature.
UC Davis Center for Neuroscience Director Kimberley McAllister studies the puzzle of the developing brain. Part of her research focuses on why viral infection during pregnancy can increase the likelihood of a child developing autism and schizophrenia.
Plant Biology Graduate Group student Leonardo Jo thought his anxiety was normal, an expected part of the graduate school experience. His peers grappled with similar issues: imposter syndrome, researcher pressures and financial insecurity, to name a few. And they all seemed to suffer in silence at the cost of their own mental health.
The genomes of wild animals can help us understand how they have adapted to unique situations, give insight into their evolution and help in efforts to protect or restore endangered species. Two examples are recently published chromosome-scale genome assemblies for the Masai giraffe and the gemsbok.
If you strolled through the ARC Pavilion during the 30th annual Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference last spring, you’d find students from across campus displaying their latest research and projects. Among the mingling academics, you’d also find Sid Ganesh and three of her watercolor paintings.
While we know certain plant-derived compounds act as insect repellents, much of the molecular science behind insect olfaction remains a mystery. In a study published in iScience, UC Davis researchers exposed further layers of complexity in the mosquito olfactory system.
