New research shows that pathogens that attack agricultural crops show remarkable adaptability to new climates and new plant hosts. Researchers studied the temperature preferences and host plant diversity of hundreds of fungi and oomycetes that attack our crops and found Read More …

There is compelling evidence that when root hairs interact with the surrounding soil they reduce soil erosion and increase soil cohesion by binding soil particles. Soil erosion can have a devastating impact across the globe and a serious threat for Read More …

During my PhD, it occurred to me that many of the papers in the scientific literature could be misidentifying genetic markers that show a skewed inheritance pattern, otherwise known as segregation distortion. This is because they used a statistical test Read More …

This preprint paper on a new method for spray-on gene editing has rocketed to the 98th percentile of popular work uploaded onto biorxiv within just a few days, and has been retweeted multiple times by many scientists! The Whitney/Galan/Edwards groups Read More …

This year the ‘Aggies’ took a break from the Green Man Festival and got together for two activities, a Coding Camp in rural Devon, and the SEB Conference in Seville. The Coding Camp was held at a beautiful farmhouse near Read More …

Bacteria are constantly being infected by viruses, or phage. To combat this, many species have evolved a defense mechanism known as CRISPR. This allows a bacterial cell to remember which phages have infected it, so that the next time it Read More …

Nicole Pacchiarini has just received a Trainee Professional Development Award from the Society of Neuroscience.   These awards promote the advancement of career training for neuroscientists, and recognise young scientists who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in their research.  The award includes Read More …

Gareth Thomas has recently finished his UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Policy internship, which took place at the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). The role of SPICe is to provide impartial information to the Scottish Parliament on a range of Read More …

35 BBSRC PhD students from across the UK enjoyed a four-day intensive Skills School earlier this month. The BBSRC-funded Grand Challenges for Technologies and Methods for Drug Discovery Skills School took place at the Cosener’s House in Abingdon and ended with students pitching to a panel ‘Dragon’s Den’ style.  This event was organised by the SWBio DTP in collaboration with Read More …

Gareth Thomas and Claire Duménil (SWBio DTP students of Rothamsted Research and Cardiff University, respectively) have been awarded first and second place awards for their poster presentations at the annual Agrisciences Chemical Biology Postgraduate Symposium, Imperial College London.  The meeting Read More …