Biological Sciences

Most-read research stories of 2021

As the pandemic dragged into its second year, Washington State University research that grabbed the most media attention either provided some comfort and hope or warned of more dangers ahead. CAS faculty featured in four of the top 10 most popular stories—including the number one spot—and were well-represented in the next 76 press releases tracked […]

Advancing nutrition for exotic animals

Building on experiences gained at Washington State University, alumnus Troy Tollefson helps black rhinos, giraffes, maned wolves, and other exotic animals live healthier lives in zoos and sanctuaries as an animal nutritionist. After earning a trio of degrees at WSU—bachelor’s and master’s degrees in zoology in 2002 and 2004, followed by

Getting the ratio right

A high protein diet appears linked to kidney disease and shortened lifespans for captive polar bears, a relationship similarly suspected in humans, according to a review led by WSU wildlife biologist Charlie Robbins. “Zoos made some assumptions in the past about the nutritional requirements of polar bears because their diet is almost exclusively

Undergraduates tackle important questions in sciences, humanities

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, relieving chronic pain, understanding protest behavior, and conserving wildlife are among the goals of eight undergraduate research projects funded this spring by the College of Arts and Sciences. Students from across the college—in mathematics, chemistry, foreign languages, and political, psychological, environmental, and biological sciences—are working with faculty mentors to solve questions […]

Helping students succeed

Senior zoology major Cassandra McElroen became a Chemistry 105 teaching assistant because she enjoys helping people and wants to provide students with a better understanding of the material. Her role as a TA includes holding office hours once a week, where students can ask questions about anything chemistry-related. She also runs a lab section, where […]

PhD research program leads to national laboratory

Batteries developed by Shuo Feng could someday revolutionize the nation’s power grid and help electric vehicles go further on one charge than ever before. Feng is one of five doctoral students who completed their doctorate program through the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Washington State University Distinguished Graduate Research Program (DGRP) in 2021.

Big gaps in quest to sequence genomes of all animals

In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from WSU and Brigham Young University warn that current efforts to sequence the genomes of the world’s animals are overlooking huge swathes of diversity and opportunity. “With genome assemblies accumulating rapidly, we want to think about where we are putting our efforts. […]

New biomarkers could predict rheumatoid arthritis

Cells from a cheek swab revealed biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis that could lead to a way to diagnose and begin treatment before the disease develops, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. In the study, researchers from Washington State University and Arthritis Northwest in Spokane, Washington, identified a set of epimutations in cells from

Cougar Cage funding advances CAS projects

Research into cancer in Tasmanian devils and a design internship program were two of the six WSU projects that received a combined $125,000 in funding in the second round of the Cougar Cage competition. Launched last January, Cougar Cage matches private donors with projects pitched by WSU faculty, staff, and students. This fall, a mix […]