Tag Biosciences
Wielding microbe against microbe, beetle defends its food source
As the southern pine beetle moves through the forest boring tunnels inside the bark of trees, it brings with it both a helper and a competitor. The helper is a fungus that the insect plants inside the tunnels as food for its young. But also riding along is a tiny, hitchhiking mite, which likewise carries a fungus for feeding its own larvae. Read More
Science photo takes second in national contest
With a photograph that embodies the unexpected - and sometimes breathtaking - outcomes of science, University of Wisconsin–Madison graduate student Jenna Eun has won second place in the 2008 Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and Science magazine. Read More
Q&A: A broad vision for cross-college biology education
As one who balances scientific interests in microbes and climate change with a passion for human development, associate soil science professor Teri Balser knows a thing or two about bridging diverse disciplines and perspectives. Who better, then, to lead the Institute for Cross-College Biology Education? Read More
Reseachers derive ‘green gasoline’ from plant sugars
Alternative energy doesn't always mean solar or wind power. In fact, the alternative fuels developed by University of Wisconsin–Madison chemical and biological engineering professor James Dumesic look a lot like the gasoline and diesel fuel used in vehicles today. Read More
Monsanto supports UW plant breeding with $1 million fellowship gift
Monsanto Co. has made a $1 million gift to support plant breeding and genetics in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Read More
Great ideas sought for WID competition
To chart the direction of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), the committee and campus leaders charged with formulating the vision for the new interdisciplinary institute have issued a call for research theme proposals from UW–Madison faculty. Read More
Executive director named for Morgridge Institute for Research
A distinguished researcher from Purdue University with significant private and public sector experience will return to Wisconsin as the executive director of the new Morgridge Institute for Research, part of the twin Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. Read More
World Stem Cell Summit comes to Madison Sept. 21-23
Meeting stem cell experts from around the world, unique networking opportunities, and a public day of outreach await those attending the World Stem Cell Summit and related events Sept. 21-23 in Madison, Wis. Read More
Baby’s smell tamps down dad’s testosterone levels
Does eau de infant make dad a better parent? It does, it seems, if you are a common marmoset, a New World monkey known for its collaborative approach to rearing offspring. Read More
WiCell Research Institute launches new stem cell bank
The WiCell Research Institute, a private, not-for-profit supporting organization to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is launching its own stem cell bank to distribute cell lines beyond the 21 lines eligible for federal funding and distribution through the National Stem Cell Bank (NSCB). Read More
The biology of obesity: Do these genes make me look fat?
Scientists are probing the complex relationship between our DNA and our diets to unravel the root causes of obesity. But for those seeking a simple solution to the worldwide fat epidemic, their answers may be hard to swallow. Read More
New $8.9 million project aims to unlock stem cell secrets
Although scientists have had access to human embryonic stem cells for a decade, precisely how the all-purpose cell gives rise to all other cells in the body and why others do not remains a fundamental mystery of biology. Read More
Soil scientist’s fascination with mineral yields plan for battling it
A UW–Madison soil scientist may have found a solution to a pesky mineral that plagues wastewater engineers all over the country. Read More
Symbiotic microbes induce profound genetic changes in their hosts
Researchers from the UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and the University of Iowa identify a slew of microbe-induced genetic changes in a tiny squid, including a set of evolutionarily conserved genes that may hold the secrets to developing a mutually beneficial relationship. Read More
Blood-related genetic mechanisms found important in Parkinson’s disease
A finding by scientists at UW–Madison, Brigham and Women's Hospital and the University of Ottawa may lead to new treatments for Parkinson's disease. Read More
Facility to house new instrument to speed biomedical research
Already home to one of the world's most impressive collections of huge research instruments, the University of Wisconsin–Madison's National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison (NMRFAM) is about to add another giant. Read More
A ‘red flag’ for expanding biofuels in the tropics
Biofuels, by recycling atmospheric carbon, are a potential boon to the world's ailing climate. But efforts in the tropics to significantly expand biofuel production by replacing tropical forests with oil palm, sugarcane and other agricultural biofuels could, in fact, accelerate climate change, according to a new study published this week (July 9). Read More
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center hires scientific programs manager
The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) has hired a translator to connect researchers who would normally live in entirely separate research worlds. Read More
Lignin expert chooses to pursue biofuels research at UW–Madison
A UW–Madison biochemistry professor will stay at the university to join its Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. Read More
Public events slated at UW–Madison research stations
The following is a list of public events currently scheduled at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Agricultural Research Stations, the Kemp Biological Station and the O.J. Noer turfgrass facility. Read More