If you have a news item of interest, send the link to P. Stock (spstock@email.arizona.edu) for publication.
February 15, 2012.
"Spirit of Inquiry" 25th Annual Honors Research Expo
University of Arizona
Dozens of undergraduate researchers will present their original work during the Honors Research Expo, which is now in its 25th year. For further information visit: http://www.uanews.org/node/44703
Stephen Wallace, an Honors College senior studying molecular and cellular biology, focused on the specificity between insect parasitic nematodes, also known as roundworms, and their bacterial symbionts.
He was able to study the relationship between the two organisms and answer key questions on mutualistic interactions, such as symbiont specificity, and the mechanisms that enable host and symbiont to associate with each other and team up for a given function.
Wallace, who said it was his first research experience, became interested in the topic through a lecture by UA Professor Patricia Stock.
"I loved that lecture so much that I was able to gain her support and the support of the Honors College to do the research," Wallace said.
Stephen Wallace, undegraduate student, P.Stock lab, University of Arizona
February 4-6, 2012
S1024 Meeting : Discovery of Entomopathogens and Their Integration and Safety in Pest Management Systems
The S-1024 meeting took place in Naples Florida.
Project's Primary Website is at http://cipm.ncsu.edu/S301/ (direct link can be found under LINKS)
Attendees of the S-1024 annual meeting
May 19, 2010
Réunion island as a reflection of the world
The worm Pristionchus pacificus was frequently introduced onto the island as a "stowaway", whereupon it achieved a substantial degree of genetic diversity, and enabling it to adapt quickly to new habitats. Just why this particular species is so successful throughout the world is a subject which the scientists are keen to explore more closely at their new field station. "To achieve this, we need to consider population genetics and evolutionary ecology as well," says Ralf Sommer, Director at the Tübingen-based Institute. (Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010).
Read more...
January 15, 2010
Making microscopic worms into a more deadly insecticide
Microscopic nematode worms can be a potent organic insecticide, killing crop-raiding bugs without harming plants or beneficial insects and without environmental side effects of chemical. The problem is that when the worms are mass-bred for agricultural purposes, they tend to, as Byron Adams says, "wimp out," and are not as deadly as their cousins that grow in the wild.
Read more...
September 1, 2009
The Fantasy Genome Project
M. hapla genome cited in NY Times
"Here’s a game for a rainy afternoon. If you could pick any organism to have its whole genome sequenced — what would it be?
I played this recently, and it made me ponder. For it raises another, more fundamental question: what does a genome actually tell us?"
Dr. Oivia Judson notes hapla as an example to explain fundamental questions of evolution.
"The plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne hapla is a case in point: it has about 5,500 fewer genes than the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Similarly, parasitic bacteria tend to have smaller genomes than free-living bacteria. Why does this happen? Because parasites can piggy-back on their hosts for many tasks, such as getting nutrients. They lose the genes because they don’t need them anymore."
