News
Stinging cells modulated by light in hydra
Marcg 5, 2012What good is half an eye? Evolutionary biologists studying the origins of vision get that question a lot, and new research out of UC Santa Barbara points to a possible answer. Findings appearing today in the journal BMC Biology indicate that, even in the absence of eyes altogether, some creatures display a light-sensitivity that uses the same visual pathway that allows humans to see.
Genome of Water Flea Discovered to Contain Largest Number of Genes Recorded; UCSB Scientists Contributed to International Team Effort
February 3, 2011The water flea –– Daphnia pulex –– has the largest inventory of genes ever recorded for a sequenced animal, according to a new study in the journal Science by 69 co-authors. An international team effort to sequence the genome of the water flea included work by UC Santa Barbara biologists.
NSF Awards Grants to Study Dimensions of Earth's Biodiversity
October 5, 2010Despite centuries of discovery, most of our planet's biodiversity remains unknown. The scale of that unrecognized biodiversity is a vital question, scientists believe, given its rapid and permanent loss around the globe.
To respond to the need for more knowledge and a better understanding of Earth's biodiversity, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded 14 grants in its Dimensions of Biodiversity campaign, including one to colleagues and the Oakley Lab. Brad Cardinale (Michigan), Chuck Delwiche (Maryland) and the Oakley Lab will examine how evolutionary processes among algae generate and maintain diversity at levels from genes to ecosystems in freshwater lakes.
Genomic Sequencing of Marine Sponge Published; Revealed Early Genetic Complexity and Roots of Cancer
August 4, 2010This week's publication of the complete genomic sequence of a living marine sponge reveals genes dating back hundreds of millions of years –– a result far exceeding the expectations of the scientific world.
Scientists at UCSB Discover 600 Million-Year-Old Origins of Vision
March 11, 2010By studying the hydra, a member of an ancient group of sea creatures that is still flourishing, scientists at UC Santa Barbara have made a discovery in understanding the origins of human vision. The finding is published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, a British journal of biology.
Scientists Find That Squid's Bioluminescence Comes From Eye-Related Genes
June 11, 2009Scientists have found that a small Hawaiian squid can hide itself by using an organ with the same genes found in its eye.
Current Mass Extinction Spurs Major Study of Which Plants to Save
October 20, 2008The Earth is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction of both plants and animals, with nearly 50 percent of all species disappearing, scientists say.
UCSB Researchers Discover The Dawn of Animal Vision
October 16, 2007By peering deep into evolutionary history, scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara have discovered the origins of photosensitivity in animals.
Origins of Nervous System Found in Genes of Sea Sponge, Report Scientists at UC Santa Barbara
June 5, 2007Scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara have discovered significant clues to the evolutionary origins of the nervous system by studying the genome of a sea sponge, a member of a group considered to be among the most ancient of all animals.
Five Young UCSB Faculty Members Win National Science Foundation 'CAREER' Awards
April 2, 2007Five young faculty members at the University of California, Santa Barbara have received prestigious CAREER awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF).