News Archive
Two Ancient populations diverged in the Americas later ‘reconverged’
Diana Yates
A new genetic study of ancient individuals in the Americas and their contemporary descendants finds that two populations that diverged from one another 18,000 to 15,000 years…
Scientists boost crop production by 47% by speeding up photorespiration
Claire Benjamin
Plants such as soybeans and wheat waste between 20 and 50 percent of their energy recycling toxic chemicals created when the enzyme Rubisco—the most prevalent enzyme in the…
New technique can track drug and gene delivery to cells
Liz Ahlberg Touchstone
With targeted drug and gene therapies, finding the target cells is only half the battle. Once these agents reach a cell’s surface, they still have to get inside and do their…
Cassava breeding hasn’t improved photosynthesis or yield potential
Claire Benjamin
Cassava is a staple in the diet of more than one billion people across 105 countries, yet this “orphaned crop” has received little attention compared to popular crops like corn…
CRISPR tech ‘knocks out’ yeast genes with single-point precision
Liz Ahlberg Touchstone
The CRISPR-Cas9 system has given researchers the power to precisely edit selected genes. Now, researchers have used it to develop a technology that can target any gene in the…
Walnuts impact gut microbiome and improve health
Stephanie Henry
Diets rich in nuts, such as walnuts, have been shown to play a role in heart health and in reducing colorectal cancer. According to a new study from the University of Illinois…
Ruby Mendenhall new Assistant Deanship, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Ruby Mendenhall has been named the assistant dean for diversity and democratization of health innovation at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Mendenhall is also an…
Respect Indigenous ancestors: Scholars urge community engagement
Diana Yates
A new article in the journal Science provides guidance for those intending to study ancient human remains in the Americas. The paper, written by Indigenous…
Protect forest elephants to conserve ecosystems, not DNA
Claire Benjamin
Although it is erroneously treated as a subspecies, the dwindling African forest elephant is a genetically distinct species. New University of Illinois research has found that…