‘Jumping genes’ repeatedly form new genes over evolution

News

A long-proposed mechanism for creating genes, called exon shuffling, works by shuffling functional blocks of DNA sequences into new genes that express proteins. A study, “ Recurrent Evolution of Vertebrate Transcription Factors by Transposase...
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Biology
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
Two hands wearing blue gloves conducting research at a lab bench with tubes

Antibiotic tolerance study paves way for new treatments

News

Antibiotic tolerance is the ability of bacteria to survive exposure to antibiotics, in contrast to antibiotic resistance, when bacteria actually grow in the presence of antibiotics. Tolerant bacteria can lead to infections that persist after...
  • Microbiology
  • Health + Nutrition
  • Disease
  • Medicine
  • Biology
  • Microbiology
A glass of water and pills

Porciello to join journal editorial committee at Data & Policy

News

Data & Policy aims to promote a new theory of policy-data interactions by publishing work that considers systems of policy and data and how they relate to each other, according to the journal. The peer-reviewed journal accepts contributions from...
  • Global Development Section
  • Agriculture
  • Digital Agriculture
  • Food
  • Global Development
  • Development
Jaron Porciello

Brennan Hyden: Exploring willow’s potential as a sustainable bioenergy crop

Field Note

Brennan Hyden is a Ph.D. candidate working in the lab of Larry Smart , professor of horticulture at Cornell AgriTech , where his work focuses on using willow as a sustainable bioenergy crop. For his excellence in bioenergy research, Hyden was...
  • Cornell AgriTech
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Horticulture Section
  • Agriculture
  • Horticulture
  • Energy
  • Genomics
Graduate student works with middle school students.

Leaders valued over managers, regardless of fit

News

Romanticization of leadership over time has put decision-makers at risk of overvaluing prototypical leaders – who are seen as inspiring and motivating – even in situations calling for prototypical management skills such as hiring, supervising...
  • Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
  • Behavior
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Communication Professor Sahara Byrne to join CALS senior leadership team

News

“I am honored to serve the legacy of CALS in this capacity,” Byrne said. “CALS is a college focused on collaborative and innovative solutions to the most critical issues facing our planet and our place as humans thriving upon it. ” In this new...
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics Section
  • Department of Communication
  • Field Crops
  • Crops

Seminar series addresses grand challenge of climate change

News

This university-wide seminar series, now in its sixth year, is led by Peter Hess, professor and director of graduate studies in the department of biological and environmental engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The...
  • Cornell Atkinson
  • Biological and Environmental Engineering
  • Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
  • Agriculture
  • Soil
  • Applied Economics
  • Environment
  • Nature
  • Planet
  • Climate Change
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Study finds even the common House Sparrow is declining

News

A new study by Cornell Lab of Ornithology scientists aims to clarify the status of this non-native species, using 21 years of citizen science data from the Cornell Lab’s Project FeederWatch. The results are published in the Wilson Journal of...
  • Lab of Ornithology
  • Animals
  • Environment
  • Nature
  • Land
A small grey and brown bird sitting on a branch

Starling success traced to rapid adaptation

News

A new study from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology examines what exactly happened at the genetic level as the nonnative starling population exploded – from just 80 birds released in New York’s Central Park in 1890, to a peak of 200 million breeding...
  • Lab of Ornithology
  • Biodiversity
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Animals
  • Nature
birds sitting on a wire

CRISPR improves method for studying gene functions

News

One such method, mosaic analysis, has led to many discoveries of the functions of genes. Although mosaic analysis has been widely used in Drosophila, a popular model organism, it is much harder to implement in other organisms. A new paper...
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Biology
  • Genetics

Two CALS faculty among Center for Social Sciences 2021-22 fellows

News

Political polarization, environmental justice and inclusion in higher education are a few of big issues faculty members will tackle in the next academic year as fellows at the Cornell Center for Social Sciences (CCSS). The center has announced a...
  • Global Development Section
  • Department of Communication
  • Global Development
  • Communication
  • Environment
  • Climate Change

1.5 to stay alive

News

But that is not what the science says. The latest papers published by climate scientists on the matter show clearly that the world can still meet the Paris goal of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius that vulnerable developing...
  • Global Development Section
  • Global Development
  • Climate Change
earth's horizon as seen from space

Great Backyard Bird Count begins Feb. 12

News

The 24th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), Feb. 12-15, is a great opportunity for budding birdwatchers and bird-count veterans to use their skills. People from around the world count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or...
  • Lab of Ornithology
  • Animals
  • Environment
A green jay perched on a branch.

Jenny Goldstein named faculty fellow at Cornell Center for Social Sciences

News

Jenny Goldstein , assistant professor of global development, has been named to a prestigious faculty fellowship to develop an ambitious research project focused on environmental rehabilitation in Indonesia. Goldstein will confront the issue of...
  • Global Development Section
  • Global Development
Head shot of Jenny E. Goldstein

Biofortified foods fuel healthy microbiome, combat malnutrition

News

These microorganisms collectively make up an ecosystem known as the microbiome, and their well-being is intimately intertwined with our own. In the gut, microbes help regulate digestive health by processing essential vitamins and minerals and by...
  • Food Science
  • Food
  • Global Development
  • Health + Nutrition
multicolored beans