RNA | College of Biological Sciences

Ancient Splices of Biology: Tracing the Evolution of Insect Sexual Development

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.

Ecology and Environment

Mapping Cells in the “Immortal” Regenerating Hydra

In a study appearing in Science, Assistant Professor Celina Juliano, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and her colleagues used single-cell sequencing techniques to explore the genetic trajectory for nearly 25,000 cells of the immortal Hydra.

Human and Animal Health

AAAS Names Three College of Biological Sciences Researchers as 2018 Fellows

Professors Sean Burgess, Savithramma Dinesh-Kumar and Steven Theg were selected by the storied institution for their distinguished contributions to advance science and its applications.

Awards and Recognition

Lucas R. Smith

Assistant Professor
Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine

Research Interests: Extracellular matrix in skeletal muscle physiology

189 Briggs Hall

New Machine Learning Algorithm Finds Patterns in RNA Structures

Software inspired by speech recognition technology could help scientists understand the secret language inside cells. A machine learning algorithm called patteRNA, designed by UC Davis researchers, rapidly mines ribonucleic acid, commonly called RNA, for specific structures, providing a new method to establish links between structure, function and disease.

Cellular and Microbiology