Jenna Gallegos
Plant microbiome: Key to weaning agriculture off chemical inputs?
All plants interact with bacteria and fungi in the soil. Some plants are especially good at it. Understanding what drives ...
RNA vaccines for plants?
The threat of COVID-19 spurred innovation at unprecedented rates. Moderna and Pfizer’s RNA vaccines were approved in about a year ...
Fashion future? 5 surprising industries synthetic biology could take over
In this post, we highlight a few of the growing fields where burgeoning synthetic biologists can expect to find job ...
5 ways CRISPR-engineered animals can help combat climate change
Climate change is a man-made problem, but humans aren’t the only animals that will be impacted by warming temperatures and ...
Five ways CRISPR plants can combat climate change
Plants occupy a unique nexus when it comes to climate change. On the one hand, they can help prevent climate ...
Can genetically engineered bacteria ward off a hangover?
We all know that alcohol is bad for you — like really bad for you — and a night of ...
Scientists could produce ‘green’ beer with CRISPR-edited yeast, but consumer fear of GMOs may stand in the way
First came the IPAs and then the double IPAs, triple IPAs, and imperial IPAs....Like most hipsters, I love a good hoppy ...
How synthetic biology can solve the problems we’ve created
Human activity has wreaked havoc on the environment. Many of the products we rely on for our daily lives are ...
CRISPR: How gene editing could provide clean water, cut pesticide use and protect the environment
CRISPR has been making headlines for its potential to treat or prevent diseases. But medicine isn’t the only science where ...
How scientists are using CRISPR to make foods that directly benefit consumers
Scientists are now using a pioneering technology called CRISPR to edit a plant’s own genes, ushering in a host of ...
From GMOs to CRISPR: Making sense of how genetic engineering tweaks nature
Many new genetic engineering techniques have been stumbled upon by accident. Studying how bacteria defend themselves has led to CRISPR ...
Digitizing DNA: Real reasons to worry about cyberbiosecurity
The intersection between biology and digital technology opens the door for incredible discoveries, but also creates opportunities for dangerous events, ...
28-years in development, GMO salmon now on sale in Canada–while US caught in labeling battle
The AquaBounty salmon, called AquAdvantage, is an Atlantic salmon that contains a growth hormone gene from a Chinook salmon...In the ...
‘Chemicals’ not biggest threat to food safety—and 9 other myths about modern farming busted
Next time you’re at the grocery store, consider these 10 modern myths about the most ancient occupation. 4. A pesticide ...
Following controversial neonicotinoid study, researchers warn replacement pesticides may be worse for bees
Two large-scale studies published Thursday [June 29] suggest that common pesticides may harm bee colonies. In some cases, the pesticides ...
Green Revolution 2.0: Agricultural technology ‘moonshot’ could change future of food
The first meeting of “Science Breakthroughs 2030” just convened to discuss the key advances essential for revolutionizing food and agriculture ...
Buried treasure: ‘Game-changing’ antibiotic found in dirt might protect against resistant killer bacteria
Scientists have discovered a new kind of antibiotic — buried in dirt. Tests in animals show that it is effective ...
Bee experts say ditch Cheerios’ wildflower seeds, plant native ones to fight pollinator decline
[Editor's note: Jenna Gallegos is a 5th year plant biology PhD student at the University of California, Davis.] Honeybees are ...
Video: Genetic modification isn’t as ‘unnatural’ as you think
[Editor's note: Jenna Gallegos is a plant biotechnology PhD student at the University of California - Davis and a member ...