Biology and Life Sciences

Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Behavioural Biology, Biotechnology, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Evolution, Genetics, Biochemistry, Physiology, Phylogenetics, Botany, Zoology, Evolution, Ethology, Genetics, Agriculture, Physical Anthropology

Online Metabarcoding Course – March 1 to 28, 2021

Dirk Steinke Biology and Life Sciences, Communication, Education and Outreach, Environmental and Earth Sciences
A reminder that this course will start in a little over a month. The deadline for Early bird registration is January 31st to receive a discount. I have updated course content to include the newest HTS technology and methods such as metagenomics and transcriptomics. Throughout the course, we will explore:High throughput sequencingMetabarcoding/MetagenomicsMetabarcoding analyticsRecent applicationsThe course consists of a series of online lectures, research exercises, and group discussions where you have a chance to review the state of current technology,…

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This solitary dolphin learned to “speak porpoise” and made new friends

Anaïs Remili Biology and Life Sciences, Communication, Education and Outreach, Health, Medicine and Veterinary Science
Dolphins are very social creatures. But what happens when they become isolated? Some solitary dolphins seek comfort around navigational buoys and sometimes approach other species like humans. But this one solitary short-beaked common dolphin called Kylie found a way to deal with isolation. This common dolphin hanging out in Scottish waters seems to “speak porpoise,” producing sounds similar to those of harbor porpoises and made some friends along the way. Kylie leaping out of the…

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It Takes a Village: Writing a Book

Sarah Boon Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences
It Takes a Village: Writing a Book In the past few weeks I’ve been working on my book proposal. That’s right, I’m writing a non-fiction book about my field research adventures as a woman in science. It’s designed for readers interested in outdoor adventure, science, and women in science, and focuses on my work on snow and ice and climate change in the Arctic, Rockies, north Coast Mountain, and in the Interior of British Columbia.…

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Chief scientist Dr. Dana Devine takes on directorship at Centre for Blood Research

Jenny Ryan Biology and Life Sciences, General Science, Health, Medicine and Veterinary Science
Chief scientist Dr. Dana Devine takes on directorship at Centre for Blood Research Plasma Stem Cells Transfusion Blood Tuesday, January 19, 2021 Catherine Lewis Canadian Blood Services’ chief scientist has been appointed director of the Centre for Blood Research at the University of British Columbia. This new role deepens Canadian Blood Services’ lasting collaboration with the centre and is part of Dr. Devine’s longstanding pursuit of bringing new discoveries to patients in meaningful ways. “As…

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Une devinette sur la mémoire humaine

Bruno Dubuc Biology and Life Sciences, Health, Medicine and Veterinary Science
La semaine dernière, je rappelais qu’on ne dit jamais assez à quel point notre cerveau est plastique, que l’on peut durant toute notre vie renforcer nos synapses qui forment l’engramme de nos apprentissages. Et que cette conception des choses amène une meilleure attitude devant les difficultés d’apprentissage et les erreurs puisqu’elles deviennent alors autant d’occasions d’améliorer nos conceptions et nos idées sur le monde. Or il y a une petite devinette que j’aime poser lorsque…

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Interview with a White-breasted Nuthatch

Amelia Buchanan Biology and Life Sciences, Communication, Education and Outreach
A White-breasted Nuthatch being characteristically acrobatic. Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren. https://flic.kr/p/2jKHt6H. CC. Amelia: What a gorgeous winter day for a walk in the woods. The snow makes everything so hushed and peaceful. Except for that nasal quacking sound. Who’s doing that? White-breasted Nuthatch: Hey, I don’t comment on your annoying voice. This is just how I sound. A: Oh, you’re a nuthatch, working your way down a tree upside down. Why do…

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We are now a part of Science Borealis!

Paul Naphtali Biology and Life Sciences
In the first few months of starting up my blog, I’ve searched for science blog groups to join so that I could share my posts to the broader community. Now, I am delighted to announce that Microbe Musings is a part of the Science Borealis blog syndication network. Science Borealis is a non-for-profit corporation that aims to help raise awareness to the role of science in society through well-told science stories. Per Science Borealis, the…

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