Cases of COVID-19 are rising exponentially in almost all regions of the country, with some areas experiencing extremely high levels of infection - new research involving University of Warwick researchers has found. Against this backdrop of rising cases, their paper examines the impact of a short 2-week period of intense control.

Press Release (14 October 2020)

Organised by Professor Alfonso Jaramillo and colleagues, the 1st International BioDesign Research Conference will be held 1-18 December 2020 via Zoom. The conference will showcase the latest achievements and research progress in the field of Biosystems Design and Synthetic Biology.
Find out more and register.

This week, it was reported that the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna for their work on the technology of genome editing - more specifically, Crispr-Cas9. Scientists in the School of Life sciences who also research Crispr-Cas9 explain what it is, and discuss its significance in our lives.

Expert comment (8 October 2020)

The UK Vegetable Genebank (UKVGB), part of Warwick Crop Centre on the University of Warwick’s Wellesbourne Campus, celebrates its 40th anniversary today (8 October 2020).

Press Release

On 8 October 1980, the UK Vegetable Genebank was officially opened on what is now the Wellesbourne Campus of the University. Since then, a collection of ~14,000 seed samples has been amassed, becoming a hugely important resource for plant breeding and research. We send seed out on request to plant scientists, breeders and even farmers both in the UK and around the world. Changes in the environment, and increase in the number of people on the planet and a need to reduce irrigation, pesticide and fertilizer inputs in farming mean that plant breeders and researchers need develop new varieties constantly so that vegetables can continue to provide vital nutrition in our diets.
 
Forty Years of Seeds for the Future
To celebrate our anniversary, we are holding an online event from 5-9 October. Take a virtual tour of the genebank and register for our public webinar to hear about genebank collections from a plant breeding, research and international perspective. We’ll also be featuring research by groups within SLS, showing the diverse ways in which our seed is being used and how innovation and technology is opening up new approaches. See you there!

The relationship between the Cx26 gene and ability to regulate Carbon dioxide is to be explored by Professor Nick Dale thanks to a £686,956 grant, from the BBSRC.

Press Release (13 August 2020)

An innovative way to increase plant yield naturally, reducing the need for expensive fertilisers is being explored by Dr Miriam Gifford, Dr Isabelle Carré and colleagues, thanks to a £492,343 grant from the BBSRC.

Press Release (12 August 2020)

Antibiotic resistance is an increasing battle for scientists to overcome, as more antimicrobials are urgently needed to treat biofilm-associated infections. However, Dr Freya Harrison and colleagues say research into natural antimicrobials could provide candidates to fill the antibiotic discovery gap.

Press Release (28 July 2020)

Consuming a plant-based diet can lower blood pressure even if small amounts of meat and dairy are consumed too, according to new research from the University of Warwick.

Press Release (27 July 2020)

Visit the SLS Virtual Yearbook 2020 to see messages celebrating their success.

Professor Robin Allaby and colleagues have achieved a number of innovative breakthroughs in analysing sedimentary ancient DNA to reconstruct an 8,150 year old environmental catastrophe in an area that is now covered by the North Sea.

Press Release(16 July 2020)

The 3MT develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills by challenging students to effectively explain their research in engaging, accessible language to a non-specialist audience.
This year, both winners came from SLS:

• Congratulations to the winner - Rohini Ajaykumar on 'Studying bacterial resistance for antimicrobial drug development'.
• And the runner up and popular choice winner - Scott Dwyer on 'Controlling honey bee parasites : will the mites meet their match?'.

Find out more about 3MT 

Research by Dr Kevin Purdy et al suggests that as the Earth warms natural ecosystems such as freshwaters will release more methane than expected from predictions based on temperature increases alone.

Press Release (30 June 2020)

BBC News talks to Dr Mike Tildesley about the possibility of a second wave and predicting when it might happen.

BBC News (24 June 2020)

Health leaders warned that a 'second wave' of the coronavirus is likely, and that the UK should be more prepared. Two experts in the spread of disease, Dr Louise Dyson and Dr Ed Hill, commented on the story.

Expert comment (24 June 2020)

Professor Robin Allaby's lab is analysing soil samples from a newly discovered Neolithic structure near Stonehenge, to try and discover its purpose in ancient Britain.

Press Release

Professor Andrew Easton discusses the last six months on TRT World:

Tanycytes are glial cells, which communicate with neurons in the brain to inform it of what we have eaten. Professor Nick Dale and colleagues have found when tanycytes are selectively stimulated appetite was increased.

Press Release

The gradual reopening of schools, starting with primary schools, is unlikely to lead to a second wave of infection, according to new mathematical modelling of the COVID-19 outbreak from University of Warwick researchers, but we should be prepared to reintroduce lockdown measures should there be a significant rise in the number of new cases.

Press Release

Beth Hill, a third year Biomedical Science student, has written a blog highlighting how the pandemic has had an impact on higher education.
Read Wonkhe blog (28 May 2020).