WashU’s Department of Biology unveiled nine newly constructed teaching labs on the second and third floors of Jolley Hall at the start of the semester. These labs will house all introductory biology courses and upper-division labs in the department. The 16,000-square-foot renovation of Jolley replaced seven labs inside Rebstock Hall that will soon be revamped and converted into research labs for 6-8 new faculty hires. 

Jonathan Losos, professor and director of the Living Earth Collaborative, spoke on “The Science of Cats and the Future of Nature” in a talk co-hosted by the Washington University Alumni Association and the College of Arts & Sciences on Dec. 11 in Wrighton Hall.

The main goal of Moon’s research is to harness bacteria to “eat” plastic and waste, synthetically developing microorganisms that can clean pollutants and pathogens. This would reduce carbon emission levels by eliminating the need for incinerators and other carbon-emitting disposals. 

Biology Professor Allan Larson explained that a student would take the new class instead of the traditional two-semester sequence of introductory biology courses.

A recent $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy is allowing Washington University to take part in a collaborative study on fuel-generating bacteria. The goal of the project is to find ways to modify certain photosynthetic bacteria to generate clean energy more efficiently, Dr. Himadri B.

Washington University scientists recently collaborated on a study that found what might be the first biological explanation for varying sexuality in mammals. The study, published in last week’s edition of Nature, describes the effect of varying serotonin levels on sexual tendencies in mice.

Although freshman Rebecca Ye will not take her first biology course at Washington University until next semester, her expertise in biological research has the potential to revolutionize management of the world’s most important resource: water.

It’s official. The dog days of summer are right around the corner. The weather outside is beautiful, the skies are a perfect, clear blue and students swarm outside onto open fields with their book bags and homework, though not much work really gets done. Even allergies can’t keep us away from the gorgeous outdoors.

Last Wednesday’s town hall forum regarding the University’s environmental studies program highlights the increased concerns of students and faculty about the program’s future.