Spotlight
Biosphere Is Going Green
The division is going green and saving green and as part of that effort our alumni magazine, Biosphere, has transformed from a quarterly print publication to a quarterly electronic newsletter. In each issue, we will share exciting research breakthroughs and news from the division as well as feature a variety of stories, including spotlights on education, research, alumni and philanthropic support. We will highlight special events and ways for you to get involved with the division and connected with fellow alumni and peers.
You can read our inaugural issue and sign up to receive future issues as we continue to provide a fascinating glimpse into the division’s activities. We hope that you enjoy this new updated format and find it a valuable experience!
One of Top 10 Breakthroughs of the Year
The discovery of a long-sought receptor for a key plant hormone by two teams of biologists, one of which includes Biology Professor Julian Schroeder, has been named by the editors of Science one of the top 10 Breakthroughs of the Year for 2009. In the December 18, 2009 issue of Science, the editors wrote that the discovery of the receptor for abscisic acid, or ABA, which keeps seeds dormant and helps to curtail water loss in plants, was one of their nine runners up for Breakthrough of the Year.Events
SDCMA 2010 Symposium
Date: February 9-10, 2010
Location: Salk Institute
Biological Sciences Seminar Program
News Clips
News
UC San Diego Researchers Synchronize Blinking “Genetic Clocks”
Researchers at UC San Diego who last year genetically engineered bacteria to keep track of time by turning on and off fluorescent proteins within their cells have taken another step toward the construction of a programmable genetic sensor. The scientists recently synchronized these bacterial “genetic clocks” to blink in unison and engineered the bacterial genes to alter their blinking rates when environmental conditions change.
Wilder Weather Exerts a Stronger Influence on Biodiversity Than Steadily Changing Conditions
An increase in the variability of local conditions could do more to harm biodiversity than slower shifts in climate, a new study has found.
Climate scientists predict more frequent storms, droughts, floods and heat waves as the Earth warms. Although extreme weather would seem to challenge ecosystems, the effect of fluctuating conditions on biodiversity actually could go either way. Species able to tolerate only a narrow range of temperatures, for example, may be eliminated, but instability in the environment can also prevent dominant species from squeezing out competitors.