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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Associate Professor of Bioengineering Ting Lu, left, with Professor of Food Microbiology Yong-su Jin.

Harnessing microbial communities’ division of labor for biofuel, chemical production

Using a suite of techniques both common and new to geology and biology, researchers, from left, M.D./Ph.D. student Jessica Saw, geologist and microbiologist Bruce Fouke, microscopy expert and plant biologist Mayandi Sivaguru and their colleagues made new discoveries about how kidney stones repeatedly grow and dissolve as they form inside the kidney.

Kidney stones have distinct geological histories

Richard E. Heckert Endowed Chair in Chemistry, Director of Graduate Studies, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator

Unusual biosynthetic pathway offers a key to future natural product discovery

Workshop seeks common ground in development and behavior research

Workshop seeks common ground in development and behavior research

Targeting horseradish peroxidase to nuclear speckles (green) produces a diffuse cloud of tyramide-containing molecules (red) that can label nearby DNA (blue). Sequencing the DNA can produce a map of the genome’s organization.

Researchers develop “cytological ruler” to build 3D map of human genome

Ruby Mendenhall discusses a point during a meeting last spring with collaborators on an art exhibition, one of her many interdisciplinary projects.

A professor not afraid to cross academic boundaries

Illinois researchers adapted CRISPR gene-editing technology to help a cell skip over mutated portions of genes. From left, professor Pablo Perez-Pinera, graduate student Alan Luu, professor Jun Song and graduate student Michael Gapinske.

New CRISPR technique skips over portions of genes that can cause disease

Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and leader of the IGB's Biosystems Design research theme, Huimin Zhao is also the leader of the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) Conversion Theme.

A unique combination of catalysts opens doors to making useful compounds

Al Roca and Alex Greenwood along with colleagues found that endogenous retroviruses in koalas are deactivated by ancient, unrelated retrovirus sequences left over in the koala's genetic code.

Ancient virus defends koalas against new viral attacks

Sandra Perry Sigman and Ryan Sigman

Donor Spotlight: Sandra Perry Sigman

Anna Kukekova with fox.

Sequenced fox genome hints at genetic basis of behavior

The 2018 iGEM Illinois team, from left to right: Pranathi Karumanchi, Alexander Ruzicka, Liam Healy, Amie Bott, and Ziyu Wang.

Illinois iGEM team takes on CABBI-funded synthetic biology project

A new study from Illinois entomology professor Hugh Robertson and colleagues at the University of California, Davis reveals that all insects have odorant receptors that enable them to detect airborne chemicals.

Genomic study ties insect evolution to the ability to detect airborne odors

University of Illinois researchers developed a molecular probe that can tag and track elusive cancer stem cells in both cell cultures and live organisms. From left: Chemistry professor Jefferson Chan, graduate students Chelsea Anorma and Thomas Bearrood, and postdoctoral researcher Jamila Hedhli.

Molecular probe illuminates elusive cancer stem cells in live mice

Illinois animal biology professor Becky Fuller, left, and graduate student Rachel Moran study the factors that drive fish evolution in freshwater systems.

In darters, male competition drives evolution of flashy fins, bodies