Jesse Brunner, assistant professor of biology, is part of an international effort to find out why ranaviruses, a group of DNA-based pathogens that can infect and destroy virtually every tissue throughout the bodies of amphibians, fish and reptiles, are deadly when introduced to certain animal species and habitats but are relatively benign in others. » More …
Giant ice cubes and fruit-flavored ice pops helped grizzly bears beat the heat yesterday at Washington State University’s Bear Research Education and Conservation Center as the mercury topped 104 degrees. » More …
From the Oxford University Press Blog:
Environmental Epigenetics is a new, international, peer-reviewed, fully open access journal, which publishes research in any area of science and medicine related to the field of epigenetics, with particular interest on environmental relevance. With the first issue scheduled to launch this summer, we found this to be the perfect time to speak with WSU biologist Dr. Michael K. Skinner, Editor-in-Chief, to discuss the launch of the journal into an exciting and rapidly developing field. » More …
A group of boisterous adolescents in Okanogan County, Wash., quiets down to peer into microscopes and begin to apply new skills in DNA analysis to find a missing person. » More …
Imagine how cool it would be to detect rare or invasive species, study biodiversity or to estimate fish abundance with just a scoop of air or a dip of water. It’d be like science fiction come true. Well, science fiction is indeed becoming reality through a new sampling technology called environmental DNA.
Environmental DNA can be used in two ways. One is to identify the suite of creatures around a place. The other is to confirm the presence or absence of a specific critter, typically an invasive or endangered species.
Caren Goldberg runs the new eDNA lab at Washington State University in Pullman. She’s one of the first biologists in the Northwest to take the tool from demonstration experiments to practical application.
“It is extremely useful for species that are really hard to find,” says Goldberg.
Goldberg sees potential to get answers more efficiently, safely and with less destruction compared to traditional survey techniques such as electrofishing, snorkeling or netting.