Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging (MBIB) faculty scientist Markita Landry has developed a simplified technique for genetically engineering any type of plant that could speed the introduction of new and beneficial genes. While trying to label plant cells with nanotube sensors, Landry, an assistant professor in UC Berkeley’s chemical and biomolecular engineering department, discovered that nanotubes easily slip though plant cell walls, which are known for their tough layers. She immediately saw how to flip this around to deliver genes into plants; she and her colleagues describe the technique in Nature Nanotechnology.
Brewing Up Cannabinoids in Yeast
Jay Keasling, a professor in the departments of bioengineering and of chemical and biomolecular engineering at UC Berkeley who also holds a senior faculty scientist position at Berkeley Lab, led a team that genetically modified brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to produce cannabinoids via biosynthesis. The authors introduced cannabis genes into the yeast’s metabolic pathways to produce cannabinoid precursor molecules, such as olivetolic acid, from the simple sugar galactose. From olivetolic acid, the yeast was able to produce the key cannabinoid cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), which could in turn be used to produce Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).
Mary Maxon Speaks at American Association for the Advancement of Science
At the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington, D.C., on February 17, ALD for Biosciences Mary Maxon spoke and served on a panel as part of a session on “Overcoming the STEM-Policy Divide with Fellowships in State Governments.” Her talk reported on a 2018 study of PhD and MD California Science & Technology (S&T) Policy Fellows who served one-year appointments as full-time staffers in the California Legislature. The fellowships were supported by a grant to the California Council on S&T from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The study found that S&T fellows help policymakers understand complex policy issues and make better-informed decisions about them, and that S&T fellowships tend to boost legislative fellows’ professional opportunities. Maxon was instrumental in developing the California S&T Policy Fellows program.
Jagust Wins Radical Ideas in Brain Science Challenge
Congratulations to William Jagust, senior faculty scientist in the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, for winning the 2018 Radical Ideas in Brain Science Challenge, made possible through the generosity of Berkeley Brain Initiative donors. Jagust, who is also Professor of Public Health at UC Berkeley, will receive up to $190,000 over two years to investigate the degradation of the blood-brain barrier as a potential paradigm-shifting culprit in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Sloan Fellowship Will Help Patrick Shih Investigate Ancient Origins of Photosynthesis
Patrick Shih, JBEI’s Director of Plant Biosystems Design who also serves as an assistant professor at the department of plant biology at UC Davis and is a Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology (EGSB) affiliate, was recently selected as a 2019 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in Computational and Evolutionary Molecular Biology.
Shih, will use this fellowship to help fund his research to reconstruct the evolution of photosynthesis, a process that originated billions of years ago.
Read more in the UC Davis News Center.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- …
- 213
- Next Page »
Was this page useful?
Send
