UC Davis College of Biological Sciences

08/27/2026

What connects mutations at the edge of a cell’s nucleus to the progressive muscle weakness caused by Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy?

Using tiny roundworms, UC Davis researchers discovered that EDMD-associated mutations reduce the production of ribosomes, leaving cells unusually sparse and disrupting their internal organization. The team also identified the mTOR pathway as a potential avenue for restoring ribosome production—and, ultimately, developing new
treatments.

Read the story: https://bit.ly/4xzLkv5




Image Descriptions:
1) Xiangyi Ding, Dr. Daniel Starr, and Dr. Gant Luxton studying EDMD cellular mechanics at UC Davis.
2) Xiangyi Ding analyzing microscopy imaging data at UC Davis.

08/27/2026

Can native California plants evolve fast enough to survive rapid climate change? 🌸🌡️

For the mountain jewelflower (Streptanthus tortuosus), the answer is currently no. A new study led by postdoctoral scholar Brandie Quarles-Chidyagwai in the Department of Evolution and Ecology reveals that high-elevation populations in the Sierra Nevada are struggling to adapt to hotter summers and thinner winter snowpacks.

To help the species survive these shifting seasons, researchers in the college are now testing "assisted gene flow." By interbreeding high- and low-elevation plants, they aim to combine existing gene variants that are better suited for newly emerging mountain climates.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4wKuGrs



Image Descriptions:
1) Brandie Quarles-Chidyagwai smiles while inspecting plant seedlings in a greenhouse.
2) Researchers plant jewelflower seedlings at a field site in the Sierra Nevada.
3) A mountain jewelflower blooms against a dark rocky backdrop in the wild.

08/24/2026

How does a tiny freshwater animal regrow an entire body after being cut in half?

UC Davis researchers have uncovered a surprising part of the answer.

Working with hydra—simple animals with remarkable regenerative abilities—Ben Cox and Celina Juliano discovered that stem cells temporarily break through a collagen barrier to reach damaged tissue and rebuild lost body parts. The process resembles how cells move during human development and even cancer.

Because many of the same genes are shared between hydra and humans, the findings could one day help researchers improve wound healing while reducing
scar formation.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4wyQk1O



Image Descriptions:
1) Ben Cox in a white lab coat and blue gloves peers into a complex laboratory
microscope next to a computer monitor.
2) Ben smiles, wearing an olive green graphic t-shirt outdoors.
3) macro photograph showing multiple translucent, slender Hydra polyps with
extended tentacles against a dark background.
4) Ben in a lab coat uses a pipette to transfer liquid between petri dishes on a
metal laboratory table

08/14/2026

Thanks to a transformational gift from UC Davis alumni Dr. Ravinder “Ravi” Khaira (’90) and Kamaljeet “Kamal” Khaira (’93, ’12), several lab spaces in Esau Hall have been renovated to support updated curriculum in the new BIO123 introductory biology series.

Each year, the BIO123 series will give thousands of UC Davis students hands-on, discovery-based training in foundational biology. This is just one way donor funding enables advancement and supports excellence in teaching, research, and service.

📖 Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4gbpJS5


Image Descriptions:
1) From left to right: Provost Mary Croughan& Dean Mark Winey smile, Dr. Ravi Khaira speaks at a podium.
2) Kamaljeet Khaira and Dr. Ravi Khaira visit students in a BIO123 lab.
3) Students work in an Esau Hall lab while Dr. Ravi Khaira and Kamaljeet Khaira observe.
4) From left to right, Pat Randolph tours a teaching lab with Dr. Ravi and Kamaljeet Khaira.

08/14/2026

Congratulations to cell biologist Dan Starr, who has been elected a 2026 Fellow of the American Society for Cell Biology! 🎉

One of just 15 scientists elected this year, Starr was recognized for his contributions to cell biology, leadership and service to the scientific community.

Starr studies how cells organize their internal structures, including how nuclei and other organelles move into the right positions during development. His NIH-funded research bridges developmental genetics, cell biology and cellular biophysics.

He is the fourth UC Davis scientist to receive the honor, following Mark Winey, Jodi Nunnari and Jon Scholey.

Learn more about Starr and his research: https://bit.ly/45WEnIi

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) has elected Dan Starr, professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, as a 2026 ASCB Fellow.Starr is one of 15 scientists elected this year in recognition of exceptional contributions to cell biology and the society. ASCB Fellows are selec...

08/12/2026

A decades-old cellular mystery, solved! 🧠✨

UC Davis researchers in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology have uncovered how kinesin-1—a key motor protein responsible for moving vital cargo through nerve cells—turns on and off.

In a study published in Science Advances, Associate Professor Jawdat Al-Bassam and Professor Richard McKenney revealed that when kinesin-1 is inactive, it folds in half to lock its transport system and prevent cargo from attaching. Because kinesin-1 malfunctions are linked to neurodegenerative conditions like ALS, this new structural blueprint gives scientists a foundation to develop future targeted treatments! 🔬💙

📖 Read the full story: https://bit.ly/3TToTSK


Image Descriptions:
1)Assoc. Prof. Jawdat Al-Bassam and Prof. Richard McKenney outdoors. Al-Bassam holds a small red molecular model.
2)Prof. Richard McKenney analyzes microscopic images of pink linear structures on a computer monitor in a lab setting.
3)Diagram showing the molecular unfurling of Kinesin and MAP7D3, extending from 36nm to 72nm in height along a surface.
4)A scientist pipettes liquid into a purple well plate while Assoc. Prof. Jawdat Al-Bassam watches him in a laboratory.

08/10/2026

Congratulations to Xiaosa “Jack” Xu, an assistant professor of plant biology, for receiving a UC Office of the President Early Career Faculty Research Excellence Award! 🌽🔬

Jack was awarded $50,000 from the UC Office of the President to support his research on maize evolution. His project investigates how maize ear development transformed during its domestication from its wild ancestor, teosinte—a discovery that could help inform future agricultural yield potential and crop resilience. 🔬🌾

Join us in celebrating Jack on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

Read the full story: bit.ly/4z9qIep



Image Description: Portrait of Assistant Professor Xiaosa Xu smiling in his office, with a graphic of a maize ear on a screen behind him.

08/07/2026

Did you know avocado trees reverse their biological s*x throughout the day? 🥑🌸

For the avocado, the answer to avoiding self-pollination is a synchronized daily schedule. Half of all trees open female flowers in the morning and male flowers in the afternoon, while the other half follow the exact opposite schedule.

In a new study published in PNAS, a UC Davis-led research team in the Department of Evolution and Ecology pinpointed a single gene (SDMYB) behind this 42-million-year-old daily rhythm. Led by former Ph.D. student Jeffrey Groh and professor Graham Coop, this discovery allows breeders to identify tree types at the seedling stage—saving up to 15 years of waiting for trees to flower.

Read more: bit.ly/3RzpqIN




Image Description 1: Jeffrey Groh examines an avocado plant in a greenhouse.
Alt Text: Wearing a forearm tattoo and a cream button-down shirt, researcher Jeffrey Groh stands in profile, looking down attentively at young potted avocado plants inside a bright greenhouse.

Image Description 2: Jeffrey Groh stands behind pots of avocado trees in a greenhouse.
Alt Text: Framed by lush green leaves and black planting pots, Jeffrey Groh smiles while reaching over to inspect small potted avocado seedlings in a greenhouse.

Image Description 3: Jeffrey Groh holds an avocado hanging from its stem in a greenhouse.
Alt Text: A close-up view of a hand gently cradling a small, bumpy green avocado fruit hanging from a thin stem attached to a potted plant.

07/12/2026

Big news out of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology! Please join us in celebrating Professor Sean Burgess, who will take over as department chair on September 1.

Sean Burgess’s research focuses on how cells pass genetic information to the next generation, helping us better understand and address reproductive health challenges like infertility and birth defects.

We can't wait to see the department thrive under her leadership, continuing its rich tradition of boundary-pushing biological discovery and mentorship!

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4wuzq4D



Image Description: Campus portrait of Professor Sean Burgess, the newly appointed chair of MCB.

07/12/2026

We are thrilled to share that Philipp Zerbe has been named the college's Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies.

A professor in the Department of Plant Biology, Philipp has spent years investigating plant specialized metabolism and metabolic engineering to understand how plants adapt to environmental stress.

We look forward to his leadership in supporting the college’s robust research enterprise and the success of graduate students in CBS!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4vmzR02.



Image Description:
1)Outdoor portrait of Professor Philipp Zerbe smiling on campus.
2)Professor Philipp Zerbe holds a plant specimen in arboretum, students gather around.