Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of Washington School of Medicine: Costs Pose Hurdle for Promising New Hepatitis C Lab Test
SEATTLE, Washington, Dec. 30 (TNSjou) -- The University of Washington School of Medicine posted the following news release:
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Costs pose hurdle for promising new hepatitis C lab test
The diagnostic lab test could help thousands be cured, but adequate insurance reimbursement is vital, researchers say.
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A new rapid test for hepatitis C could help identify many more patients who could be cured of the deadly disease, but its use may be limited unless insurers' reimbursement rises to cover its high cost, according to researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.
Hepatitis
... Show Full Article
SEATTLE, Washington, Dec. 30 (TNSjou) -- The University of Washington School of Medicine posted the following news release:
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Costs pose hurdle for promising new hepatitis C lab test
The diagnostic lab test could help thousands be cured, but adequate insurance reimbursement is vital, researchers say.
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A new rapid test for hepatitis C could help identify many more patients who could be cured of the deadly disease, but its use may be limited unless insurers' reimbursement rises to cover its high cost, according to researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.
HepatitisC virus, also known as HCV, attacks the liver. While some people clear the virus without treatment, about 70% develop chronic infections that can cause cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. Patients often have no symptoms, and most are unaware they are infected. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 4 million Americans have chronic hepatitis C.
Available treatments, however, clear the infection in about 90% of patients. For this reason, the CDC recommends that every adult be tested for the virus at least once, and that testing be repeated for those in high-risk groups, such as people who inject drugs or are on hemodialysis.
Early screening efforts were highly successful, in part because when HCV tests became available, in the 1990s, older Americans had the highest rates of infection. These patients have been relatively easy to contact and bring in for follow-up care.
In recent years, however, the rate of acute and chronic infection has been rising among younger adults, largely due to the opioid and injection drug-use epidemic. These people, who are often seen in community clinics and emergency rooms, frequently do not get started on treatment.
"Our clinicians say that if they were able to go NIhwith these lab results to these patients while they are still in the ER or clinic, they would be able to convince them to start treatment right on the spot," said senior author Dr. Alexander Greninger, professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the UW School of Medicine.
The new finger-stick test, which detects the presence of the virus's RNA, can be performed in a doctor's office, clinic or emergency room, and provide results within an hour. The advantage of such "point-of-care" tests is that they make it possible to start patients on treatment while they are still in the clinic or emergency room, making it much more likely they will be cured.
To assess the cost of implementing the new test, Greninger and his colleagues analyzed how HCV testing was done across the UW Medicine healthcare system from 2017 to 2024.
The UW Medicine system includes a major medical center on the UW campus, a large public county hospital in downtown Seattle, a community hospital in north Seattle, and primary- and specialty-care clinics around King County. The data collected informed their projection of cost after the recently approved Cepheid Xpert HCV test was adopted in different scenarios.
Unlike older HCV tests, which can be run in large batches, the Cepheid tests are more expensive and, because they must be run one at a time, require more lab staff time. The researchers estimated that the cost of performing one Cepheid test was approximately $91.00.
"Even a minimal implementation of this test, such as restricting it to orders from the county hospital emergency room, would increase overall HCV testing lab costs by 22%, while broader implementation would cost millions of dollars, at a time of declining test reimbursements and challenging budgets throughout health care," said first author Dr. Emily Helm, a UW resident in laboratory medicine and pathology.
Restricting use of the test to settings where high-risk patients are most likely to be seen would be most cost-efficient, Helm said. For example, about one-third of the King County, Washington, cases are diagnosed in Harborview Medical Center's emergency department, where more than 10% of HCV tests were positive. Limiting the new test to this emergency department would increase lab costs by about $550 per infection detected, Helm said.
Testing hospitalized patients at Harborview (the public county hospital managed by UW Medicine) was also relatively cost-efficient compared to other approaches, the analysis found.
With new treatments, it is possible to essentially eradicate HCV if patients can be identified and started on treatment, Greninger said.
"But eradicating HCV is about finding cases -- the diagnostics -- and the challenge is to find new ways to implement these tests that are affordable," he said. "We've created entirely new models of paying for curative HCV antivirals and perhaps we need to be thinking the same thing for diagnostics."
The study appears in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
The study received no external funding and was supported by the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the UW School of Medicine.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/costs-pose-hurdle-for-promising-new-hepatitis-c-lab-test
University of Mississippi: Program Aims to Educate Next Generation of the Space Economy
OXFORD, Mississippi, Dec. 30 -- The University of Mississippi issued the following news:
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Program Aims to Educate Next Generation of the Space Economy
Global, online degree focuses on commercial realities shaping the future space economy
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The University of Mississippi School of Law is launching a new master's degree program for fall 2026 that is open to everyone across the galaxy.
The first of its kind on Earth, the online Master of Science program in air and space law will help students understand how to contribute to the aviation and space industries that are a backbone of the global
... Show Full Article
OXFORD, Mississippi, Dec. 30 -- The University of Mississippi issued the following news:
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Program Aims to Educate Next Generation of the Space Economy
Global, online degree focuses on commercial realities shaping the future space economy
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The University of Mississippi School of Law is launching a new master's degree program for fall 2026 that is open to everyone across the galaxy.
The first of its kind on Earth, the online Master of Science program in air and space law will help students understand how to contribute to the aviation and space industries that are a backbone of the globaleconomy.
"Dependence on the air and space infrastructure is only going to grow as we build drone delivery programs and continue to rely on satellites for communications, earth observation and other critical services," said Michelle Hanlon, director of the university's Center for Air and Space Law.
Focused on the commercial and practical aspects of space law, the program will equip participants to understand how best to employ the capabilities that aviation and space platforms provide.
"Nearly every commercial activity on Earth is already - or soon will be - shaped by drones, satellites and other aviation and space infrastructure," said Fred Slabach, dean of the law school. "This new degree is designed for non-lawyers who want to understand how these laws affect their businesses and careers.
"With this program, Ole Miss law is setting the standard for air and space law education beyond the traditional J.D. and becoming the indispensable partner for professionals driving these rapidly evolving industries."
The online program is supported by a $1.5 million grant from NASA and is open to anyone with a bachelor's degree. A law degree is not required.
"This program isn't designed for one type of student," Hanlon said. "We're intentionally seeking to build a diverse cohort to help shape the next generation of our economy and broaden understanding of how aviation and space platforms support nearly every industry."
Instructors for the courses are world-renowned.
Besides faculty from the law school, students will have opportunities to learn from experts such as Roy Balleste, of Stetson University College of Law, whose rare combination of a doctorate in space cybersecurity and a master's degree in space law places him among the most highly specialized scholars in space governance and security.
This program comes at a time when space is no longer limited to exploration alone; new activities are emerging at a rapid pace. From space burial services offered by private companies to proposals for orbital mirrors and plans by some nations to place nuclear reactors on the moon, the range of activity is expanding quickly.
"As space activity accelerates, there's a growing need for more people to understand - and engage with - the legal and policy questions shaping what comes next," Hanlon said.
To learn more or to apply for the program, click here (https://olemiss.edu/programs/school-of-law/airandspacemasters/).
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Original text here: https://olemiss.edu/news/2025/12/ole-miss-program-aims-to-educate-next-generation-of-the-space-economy/index.html
UI Professor Creates Simulated European Travel Course With Global Curriculum Development Award
IOWA CITY, Iowa, Dec. 30 -- The University of Iowa's International issued the following news:
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UI professor creates simulated European travel course with Global Curriculum Development Award
By Kate Murphy, International Programs
Roxanna Curto, an associate professor of French and Spanish at the University of Iowa , has transformed her classroom into a gateway to French-speaking Europe. With support from the International Programs' Global Curriculum Development Award, Curto traveled abroad in summer 2025 to design a course that immerses students as "imaginary tourists" in French-speaking
... Show Full Article
IOWA CITY, Iowa, Dec. 30 -- The University of Iowa's International issued the following news:
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UI professor creates simulated European travel course with Global Curriculum Development Award
By Kate Murphy, International Programs
Roxanna Curto, an associate professor of French and Spanish at the University of Iowa , has transformed her classroom into a gateway to French-speaking Europe. With support from the International Programs' Global Curriculum Development Award, Curto traveled abroad in summer 2025 to design a course that immerses students as "imaginary tourists" in French-speakingcountries.
The introductory course, FREN:1500 Trip to Belgium, France, and Switzerland, guides students through history, cultures, and languages of various French-speaking regions in Europe through an imaginary journey that students undergo with their instructor.
"At each 'stop,' we discuss not only the local culture and major attractions, but contemporary political or social issues relevant to the area," Curto said.
The course aims to spark curiosity about Francophone culture among students of all majors, making French-speaking Europe accessible without leaving Iowa.
"I wanted it to be a course that drew in students who wouldn't necessarily be taking French courses otherwise--to get them interested in French and Francophone culture," Curto said.
Curto credits the International Programs' Global Curriculum Development Award for enabling her to spend three weeks abroad conducting research that shaped the content and structure of her new course.
"The award gave me the opportunity to see the cities and regions I wanted to teach about firsthand," Curto said. "It was essential for designing a course that could transport students to French-speaking Europe from Iowa."
During her trip, Curto visited Paris; regions of France; Belgium; Luxembourg; and Switzerland, spending each day exploring sites, filming videos, interviewing locals, and gathering other materials that would bring the class to life.
"I would get up in the morning, go visit a site, make a video ... and in the evening I would prepare for the next day," Curto said. "I felt like I had more fun doing that than I would have if I had just been on vacation. It was some of the best workdays I've ever had.
In addition to funding her travel, the award--combined with support from OpenHawks, a campuswide program promoting Open Educational Resources (OER)--helped Curto develop an open-access textbook designed specifically for the course.
"Once it's finished, it will be accessible to professors and instructors everywhere," Curto said. "It's where the photos and videos will live, so students and professors can access it from other institutions. There was something about recording the videos and working on the textbook that gave me this sense of purpose."
Curto also emphasized the importance of highlighting locations beyond France to showcase the cultural differences among French-speaking regions.
"We could have done an entire course on Paris," Curto said. "But I decided that that's not what I wanted to do. With Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, I wanted us to be able to talk about how they're each unique and very different from the U.S. entirely."
Students taking the course during the fall 2025 semester have already shared positive feedback.
"A couple of students are traveling to Europe over winter break, and they're really excited to apply their knowledge to their trip," Curto said.
Curto plans to offer more sections of the class next semester and hopes to inspire more students to continue learning the language.
"Even if they don't ever make it to France, they learn a lot about the history and the culture," Curto said. "Hopefully, in some cases, they will actually make it abroad--maybe go study abroad--and be able to use their knowledge on a practical level."
Through the course, Curto hopes students gain not only language exposure but also encouragement to continue taking more classes or to travel abroad.
"This class gives them another perspective on their own culture and a better perspective on the world."
The Global Curriculum Development Awards support faculty members who create a new undergraduate or graduate course, or substantially revise an existing course, integrating international or global perspectives into an undergraduate or graduate major.
Learn more about the Global Curriculum Development Awards (https://international.uiowa.edu/faculty/ip-funding/global-curriculum-development-awards)
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International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.
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Original text here: https://international.uiowa.edu/news/2025/12/ui-professor-creates-simulated-european-travel-course-global-curriculum-development
Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund Donates $200,000 to Advance Pediatric Cancer Care at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital
SYRACUSE, New York, Dec. 30 -- The State University of New York Upstate Medical University campus issued the following news:
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Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund donates $200,000 to advance pediatric cancer care at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital
By Russell Corbin
Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund made its traditional holiday gift donation to the Upstate Foundation, presenting a $200,000 check to benefit cancer care and research at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital.
Paige officials and family members presented the check to Foundation and hospital officials in a brief ceremony today in the
... Show Full Article
SYRACUSE, New York, Dec. 30 -- The State University of New York Upstate Medical University campus issued the following news:
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Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund donates $200,000 to advance pediatric cancer care at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital
By Russell Corbin
Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund made its traditional holiday gift donation to the Upstate Foundation, presenting a $200,000 check to benefit cancer care and research at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital.
Paige officials and family members presented the check to Foundation and hospital officials in a brief ceremony today in theKinney Performance Center of Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital.
Through long-standing partnerships such as with Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund, the Upstate Foundation helps ensure that children and families facing serious illness receive comprehensive, compassionate support. The Upstate Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Upstate Medical University, and works to connect donor generosity with meaningful impact across patient care, education and research.
Since 1997, Paige's Butterfly Run, now operating as Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund, has raised nearly $5 million to support pediatric cancer care and research at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. These funds provide direct assistance to families facing childhood cancer and blood disorders, helping cover expenses such as food, gas, medical costs and supportive services, while also advancing clinical care and research initiatives.
"We are deeply grateful to Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund and its supporters for their continued commitment to our patients and families," said Dave Bartell, assistant vice president for development at the Upstate Foundation for Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. "Their partnership makes a lasting difference by strengthening services that support families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives."
Support from Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund has also contributed to research and innovation at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, including the purchase of specialized materials needed for national clinical studies evaluating new treatments for pediatric cancers.
"Support from Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund has a direct and meaningful impact on both patient care and research," said Melanie Comito, MD, the Paige Yeomans Arnold Endowed Professor in Pediatric Oncology and division chief of the Waters Center for Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders at Upstate. "These resources help us advance innovative treatments while ensuring families receive the support they need throughout their journey."
Over the past year, the organization expanded its reach through a rebrand to Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund and new community engagement efforts, including the introduction of Toast for Gold and the New York Childhood Cancer Summit.
"Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund experienced an extraordinary year of growth thanks to our generous supporters," said Paige's father, Chris Arnold, board co-chair of Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund. "Our contribution affirms our commitment to walk with families from diagnosis through survivorship -- and, in heartbreaking cases, bereavement. It is an honor to support both the families we serve and the extraordinary frontline team at the pediatric cancer center at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, in loving memory of Paige Yeomans Arnold, a precious life cut short."
Also participating in the presentation was Paige's mother, Ellen Yeomans, and Paige's grandparents and the Fund's Executive Director Jennifer Huntley.
Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund honors the life of Paige Yeomans Arnold, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993 at age 6 and died a year later from complications related to a bone marrow transplant. The organization raises funds through multiple events throughout the year, including its signature annual event held each June.
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Original text here: https://www.upstate.edu/news/articles/2025/2025-12-29-pbr.php
Ohio State: How Doubting Your Doubts May Increase Commitment to Goals
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 30 (TNSjou) -- Ohio State University issued the following news:
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How doubting your doubts may increase commitment to goals
Research explores what happens when people face goal obstacles
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When it comes to our most important long-term goals in life, it is not uncommon to face obstacles that may lead us to doubt whether we can achieve our ambitions.
But when life hands you doubts, the answer may be to question your doubts, a new study suggests.
A psychology professor found that when people who were worried about achieving an identity goal were induced to experience
... Show Full Article
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 30 (TNSjou) -- Ohio State University issued the following news:
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How doubting your doubts may increase commitment to goals
Research explores what happens when people face goal obstacles
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When it comes to our most important long-term goals in life, it is not uncommon to face obstacles that may lead us to doubt whether we can achieve our ambitions.
But when life hands you doubts, the answer may be to question your doubts, a new study suggests.
A psychology professor found that when people who were worried about achieving an identity goal were induced to experiencewhat is called meta-cognitive doubt, they actually became more committed to achieving their goal.
"What this study found is that inducing doubts in one's doubts can provide a formula for confidence," said Patrick Carroll, author of the study and professor of psychology at The Ohio State University at Lima.
The study was published online recently in the journal Self and Identity.
Carroll was interested in what happens when people have what is called an "action crisis" while pursuing an identity goal - a long-term objective centered on who you want to become in life. Wanting to become a doctor, for instance, is an identity goal.
An action crisis is a decision conflict where you are not sure if you want to continue pursuit of the goal.
"When you're pursing identity goals, bumps in the roads inevitably arise. There may come a point where the obstacle is big enough to evoke doubts about whether to continue," Carroll said.
Most research on the topic has focused specifically on these doubts and how they can impact whether people go forward with their goals.
But based on previous work done by other Ohio State researchers, Carroll decided to examine meta-cognitive doubt, which is the sense of certainty a person has in the validity of one's thoughts.
In the case of this research, a person can have doubts about whether they can achieve their goal. But what happens if you make the person wonder if their doubts are valid?
Carroll conducted two studies. One involved 267 people who participated online. First, they completed an action crisis scale about their most important personal goal. The scale included items such as "I doubt whether I should continue striving for my goal or disengage from it" and participants responded on a scale from "strongly disagree" to strongly agree."
Participants were then told they would take part in a second, unrelated study on the effect of memory writing exercises. Half of the participants were asked to write about a time that they felt confidence in their thinking. The other half were asked to write about a time when they had experienced doubt in their thinking.
After completing the writing exercise, all participants were asked to rate how committed they were to achieving their most important personal goal, on a scale from "not at all committed" to "very committed."
Findings showed that the writing exercise succeeded in making people feel more confident or more doubtful in their own thoughts about their identity goal - even though the writing exercise was not directly connected to their goals.
Here's how it worked: Those participants who felt doubtful about their identity goal - and then wrote about an experience feeling confident - were less committed to achieving their goal. In other words, the writing exercise made them more confident in their doubts about achieving their goal.
On the other hand, those who felt doubtful about their goal and then wrote about an experience of feeling doubtful in their own thoughts actually had higher levels of commitment to their goals. For them, writing about doubt made them question their own doubts about achieving their goal.
"On some level, it may seem that doubt would be additive. Doubt plus doubt would equal more doubt," Carroll said. "But this study found the opposite: Doubt plus doubt equaled less doubt."
Carroll replicated the findings in another study, involving 130 college students, that used a different way of inducing doubt. In this study, Carroll used a technique developed by Ohio State researchers that had the participants complete the action crisis scale with their non-dominant hand.
"Previous research showed that using the non-dominant hand leads participants to have doubts in their own thoughts because they use their shaky handwriting as a cue that their thoughts must be invalid," Carroll said.
"And that is exactly what I found in this study. So in two different studies we found that inducing meta-cognitive doubt can lead to people doubting their own doubts."
On a practical level, it may be difficult for individuals to induce doubts about their doubts on their own, Carroll said. One reason it worked in this study is that participants were not aware that the doubt induction was related to their goal doubts.
This could be more effective if someone else - a therapist, a teacher, a friend or a parent - can help a person question their own thoughts and doubts.
"You don't want the person to be aware that you're getting them to question their doubts about their goals," he said.
Carroll also noted that this technique should be used carefully, because it could potentially undermine wise judgment if overused or misapplied.
"You don't want to undermine humility and replace it with overconfidence or premature certainty," he said. "This needs to be used wisely."
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Original text here: https://news.osu.edu/how-doubting-your-doubts-may-increase-commitment-to-goals/
Millikin University Awarded Federal TRIO Grant to Support Student Success
DECATUR, Illinois, Dec. 30 -- Millikin University issued the following news:
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Millikin University Awarded Federal TRIO Grant to Support Student Success
By Matthew Flaten
The multi-year grant will fund comprehensive academic, financial, and personal support services for 140 eligible Millikin undergraduates.
Millikin University has been awarded a highly competitive federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, launching the new Great Start-Great Finish College Success Program to strengthen academic achievement, retention, and graduation outcomes
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DECATUR, Illinois, Dec. 30 -- Millikin University issued the following news:
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Millikin University Awarded Federal TRIO Grant to Support Student Success
By Matthew Flaten
The multi-year grant will fund comprehensive academic, financial, and personal support services for 140 eligible Millikin undergraduates.
Millikin University has been awarded a highly competitive federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, launching the new Great Start-Great Finish College Success Program to strengthen academic achievement, retention, and graduation outcomesfor Millikin students.
The multi-year grant will fund comprehensive academic, financial, and personal support services for 140 eligible Millikin undergraduates -- primarily first-generation, low-income students and students with disabilities. With nearly 60% of Millikin's undergraduate students meeting TRIO eligibility criteria, the grant represents a transformative investment in student success and equity.
"This grant is a game-changer for Millikin University," said Dr. Dean Pribbenow, Millikin University President. "TRIO programs are nationally recognized for transforming student lives, and this investment allows us to build the kind of holistic support system that ensures all eligible students -- no matter their background -- have a clear path to graduate, thrive, and succeed."
The TRIO SSS program will provide individualized support designed to remove barriers that often hinder college persistence. Services will include tutoring, success coaching, academic advising, financial aid guidance, career and graduate school preparation, peer mentoring, and cultural and academic enrichment opportunities.
Students will also benefit from targeted assistance in areas identified by Millikin's institutional research, including transitions to college-level coursework, financial challenges, mental health concerns, gaps in academic advising, and opportunities to build community and belonging on campus.
Molly Berry, Interim Vice President of Admission and Student Affairs, emphasized the alignment with Millikin's mission.
"Millikin promises to prepare students for professional success, democratic citizenship, and a meaningful life," she said. "The TRIO SSS program strengthens that promise by removing systemic barriers and ensuring that students who have historically been underserved are fully supported -- academically, financially, and personally."
The new TRIO-funded initiative will offer academic tutoring and study support, including:
* Academic advising and degree planning
* Financial aid assistance
* Economic and financial literacy programming
* Graduate school and professional pathway support
* Individualized success plans
* Career exploration and professional development
* Cultural, academic, and community engagement experiences
* Temporary housing support for students who are homeless or aging out of foster care
With the establishment of the Great Start-Great Finish program, Millikin will significantly expand its capacity to support students who face academic or financial obstacles on their path to graduation.
"This award allows us to remove barriers that too many students face alone," Berry said. "TRIO gives us the resources to walk alongside students from their first semester through graduation and helps us live into our mission to ensure every student has what they need to succeed."
The TRIO Student Support Services program will launch in the 2026-27 academic year, with student recruitment and staffing beginning immediately.
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Original text here: https://millikin.edu/news-events/newsroom/millikin-university-awarded-federal-trio-grant-support-student-success
From Dinosaurs to Alien Jaws: Clemson Researchers Separate Science From Fiction
CLEMSON, South Carolina, Dec. 30 -- Clemson University issued the following news:
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From Dinosaurs to alien jaws: Clemson researchers separate science from fiction
By Brooke Dillingham
January 2 is National Science Fiction Day. To honor it, some Clemson University College of Science faculty are separating fact from fiction -- revealing which sci-fi ideas are pure myth and which are surprisingly grounded in real science.
Dinosaurs and DNA
Kelsey Witt Dillon is an assistant professor in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and the Clemson Institute for Human Genetics. She uses her
... Show Full Article
CLEMSON, South Carolina, Dec. 30 -- Clemson University issued the following news:
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From Dinosaurs to alien jaws: Clemson researchers separate science from fiction
By Brooke Dillingham
January 2 is National Science Fiction Day. To honor it, some Clemson University College of Science faculty are separating fact from fiction -- revealing which sci-fi ideas are pure myth and which are surprisingly grounded in real science.
Dinosaurs and DNA
Kelsey Witt Dillon is an assistant professor in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and the Clemson Institute for Human Genetics. She uses hertraining in computational biology and population genetics to study ancient DNA and reconstruct the history of movement and interactions between human populations and their domesticated animals.
"There are always questions about the limits of ancient DNA," Witt Dillon says.
The movie "Jurassic Park" especially fuels our imagination with the idea of resurrecting dinosaurs. In the film, scientists extract dinosaur DNA from a mosquito trapped in amber. In reality, however, any DNA that old would be far too degraded to provide usable genetic information.
The oldest DNA scientists have collected is from mammoths that are one million years old, still much younger than dinosaurs. The mammoths were preserved in permafrost. Scientists have found protein fragments from a couple of dinosaur samples in rare cases, but they have not seen enough genetic material to imagine a park filled with dinosaurs. In most fossils, the bone has completely transformed into mineral, Witt Dillon said.
With all the media buzz around "de-extinction," like the highly publicized birth of dire wolf pups, one might imagine woolly mammoths roaming the Earth again. In reality, though, scientists didn't bring back a dire wolf--they simply used genetic tools to insert a few dire wolf genes into the genome of a modern wolf.
Many science-fiction stories, like Lois Lowry's novel "The Giver," imagine editing genes to create "desirable" traits. In reality, scientists still have a limited understanding of how genes interact during development, Witt Dillon said. Changing one gene could trigger unexpected side effects and health problems. However, researchers are making progress in using genetic tools to treat harmful mutations in patients, such as those that cause sickle cell anemia, she said.
More than one mouth
Virginia Abernathy, a senior lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences, studies coevolutionary interactions between birds that lay eggs in other birds' nests -- called brood parasites -- and the host birds. She also studies how birds perceive egg color and appearance.
She spoke about the 1979 movie "Alien," where the creature has a smaller mouth inside a larger one. The film's creature was designed by Swiss artist H.R. Giger and based on his painting called "Necronom IV." His goal was simply to make the creature frightening and horrible. He did not know this physiological feature actually exists in nature.
In 2007, scientists discovered a similar type of mouth in moray eels called a pharyngeal jaw. Many fish also have this feature but the function of the jaw in the eel is particularly unique, Abernathy said.
The second jaw shoots out of the eel's mouth to grab the prey held by the outer jaw and drags it into the throat down the esophagus. This mechanism allows the eel to consume large, struggling prey even in the confined spaces where the eel lives.
Abernathy also said in the 1998 "Godzilla" movie, which features a giant mutated lizard run amok, the title character reproduces asexually without a male to create a massive amount of eggs. While this may seem unbelievable for a reptile, this phenomenon, known as parthenogenesis, occurs in certain lizard species, as well as some fish and amphibians. Parthenogenesis allows female lizards to reproduce without a male and create a colony of naturally cloned females in a short period of time.
Movie-magic chemistry
Elliot Ennis, a principal lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, said there's a lot of "movie-magic chemistry" in popular media.
In the movie "The Rock," a rogue military group led by a renegade general takes over Alcatraz Island and threatens a nerve gas attack on San Francisco. "That's one of the things that got me kind of interested in chemistry, actually," Ennis says.
The toxin's effects of paralysis and death mentioned by the characters are real, but the glowing green glass globes containing the gas are not. Real nerve gas is a clear, odorless, oily liquid, Ennis said.
Wolverine, the Marvel character, has an "adamantium metal" coated skeleton, which contributes to his superpowers. Adamantane is actually a real molecule, Ennis said, but it is composed of hydrogen and carbon, not a metal.
In the DC Comic Universe, Poison Ivy's sidekick, Bane, is strengthened by a "super-steroid" called Venom. The effect of the steroid seems almost immediate. While there are chemically developed steroids used by athletes to enhance muscle performance, they would not be able to act that fast.
And, finally, the TV show "Breaking Bad" depicted a high school chemistry teacher and his student manufacturing methamphetamine. The show deliberately omitted key chemical steps so if a viewer followed the process exactly as shown, they would not have successfully produced the illegal drug. The show's iconic blue meth was actually blue rock candy made from sugar crystals.
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Original text here: https://news.clemson.edu/from-dinosaurs-to-alien-jaws-clemson-researchers-separate-science-from-fiction/
