Biology

Biomarkers could help diagnose male infertility

It can take a year or longer of trial and error for a doctor to determine if a man is infertile but new research by Michael Skinner, a WSU reproductive biologist, could change that. Skinner and an international team of collaborators discovered infertile men have identifiable patterns of epigenetic molecules or biomarkers attached to their […]

Reintroducing endangered northern leopard frogs

With the help of WSU scientists, hundreds of endangered northern leopard frogs have taken a leap back into the wild in recent weeks at the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge in Grant County. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) collected northern leopard frog eggs earlier this spring, and after months of growing in conservation […]

Senior’s antibiotic resistance review earns Library Research Award

Headlines warning of the dangers of antibiotic resistance appear in the news almost every day. The United Nations predicts that by 2050, 10 million people could die each year from diseases that have become resistant to drugs. Biology major Miles Roberts wanted to know how science is working to counter this trend. So, for his […]

Powerful new microscope adds versatility to research

The WSU Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center has acquired a microscope so powerful and versatile that Michael Knoblauch, the center director, compares it to a pig capable of making wool, milk and eggs. Or, to quote his native German, an eierlegende Wollmilchsau. Technically, it’s an Apreo VolumeScope, and it brings a suite of imaging techniques, including the […]

Where sharks want to be

Charles Bangley, an international expert in shark ecology and conservation, presented the 2019 Robert Jonas Lecture in Biological Sciences on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at WSU Pullman. His talk, titled “Where sharks want to be: Using tracking technology to define important habitat,” showcased efforts to conserve and manage sharks and rays, which is difficult because of their wide‑ranging […]

WSU med student elected to national association role

Medical students at Washington State University have a national voice, thanks to David Choi (’16 biology). A devoted Coug who graduated from WSU Vancouver and is now enrolled at the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Choi was elected last spring to represent students in nine states as western region chair of the Association of American […]

Inside the undergraduate research experience

Madison Armstrong, a senior studying evolutionary biology and ecology, has spent much of her time experiencing the world through research and scientific exploration. To say that she has been involved in an abundance of research experiences, would be a massive understatement. Armstrong started her research experience in Ecuador at age 17, working for “Operation Wallacea,” […]

Accelerated honors program for future veternarians

Emily Austin, a WSU sophomore and zoology major, says the accelerated Honors Veterinary Medicine program was one of the main factors that drew her to WSU. The College of Veterinary Medicine and the Honors College have partnered up to provide an exceptional opportunity for motivated undergraduate students who are dedicated to a profession in veterinary […]

Climate change affects breeding birds

The breeding seasons of wild house finches are shifting due to climate change, a Washington State University researcher has found. The effect of climate change on the breeding season of birds has been documented before, but in a limited context. Heather Watts, an avian physiologist, reported her finding in Ibis, the International Journal of Avian […]