Articles by Cristy Gelling (96 results)

Versatile and ubiquitous, G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the busybodies of eukaryotic signaling. This diverse group of stimulus-sensing membrane proteins are involved in countless aspects of growth, development, immunity, metabolism, and response to environmental conditions. In the latest issue of G3, Cabrera et al. report phenotypic and gene expression data for more than 80% of…

Compared to a human, a tree, or a jellyfish, the single-celled yeast might seem like a loner. Multicellular organisms like plants and animals are complex co-operative structures made of many specialized cell types, while a single yeast cell can survive and proliferate without the help of others. But although you might think of yeast as…

The mutations that drive cancer formation are often found in “hub” genes that regulate many aspects of cell growth and survival. But these key genes are not always good therapeutic targets — some are even considered “undruggable.” In the latest issue of GENETICS, Bailey et al. identify a strategy for fighting cancer cells that carry…

Amphibians around the world have been devastated by the spread of the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). But although many populations have been decimated, others have survived the same threat. One reason for such different outcomes is variation in virulence between Bd isolates. In the latest issue of G3, Refsnider and Poorten et al. investigate…

As ancient humans spread across the globe from their evolutionary birthplace in Africa, they tended to lose a little genetic diversity at each step along the way. New settlements were probably often founded by small groups that carried only a subset of the total diversity present in their homelands. Successive rounds of this “founder effect”…

Former GSA President Judith Kimble has been appointed by President Obama to chair the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science. Established by Congress in 1959, the medal is considered to be the nation’s highest scientific honor and is “awarded to individuals deserving special recognition by reason of outstanding contributions to knowledge or the…

If not for a single-nucleotide mutation, each kernel on a juicy corn cob would be trapped inside an inedible casing as tough as a walnut shell. In the July issue of GENETICS, Wang et al. identify an amino acid substitution that was key to the development of the so-called “naked” kernels that characterize modern corn…

Scientific progress runs on the intellect, curiosity, and passion of its practitioners fueled by the research dollars of its sponsors. The concern over research funding in biology in general and genetics in particular led GSA to survey our membership to learn more about the federal support of genetics at the level of individual principal investigators.…

Check out the Genetics Society of America award winners’ essays in the July issue of GENETICS! The awardees share inspiration, observations, and predictions about their fields. Nominations are now open for the 2016 GSA awards through September 18.   Edward Novitski Prize Sue Biggins Under Tension: Kinetochores and Basic Research “It is […] easy to…

The Genetics Society of America and the GSA journals are pleased to welcome two new science writing interns to our team! Meet Sarah Bay and Kayleigh O’Keeffe; you’ll be seeing a lot of their writing right here at Genes to Genomes. We asked them to tell us a little about themselves: Sarah Bay: I’m a rising sixth year…

Directly observing evolution in nature is often impossible. But biologists who use experimental systems to study these processes have the luxury of observing the fine details directly, controlling the conditions, and even replicating the results. In the age of genomics, experimental approaches to ecology and evolution have become particularly powerful for genetic model systems, including…