Frost flowers will bloom soon

Frost flowers will bloom soon

Alan Templeton, PhD, professor emeritus of biology at Washington University in St. Louis, has an unusual screen saver on his office computer. If you ask him about it, he’ll tell you it is a frost flower, or ice flower. The “flowers” are fleeting natural creations that appear only once or twice in the fall and are seen only by those who rise early and know where to look.

Unlikely gene variants work together to raise Alzheimer’s risk

Studying spinal fluid from people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, School of Medicine researchers have found that a gene variation that had not been considered risky actually can increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease when it occurs in tandem with another gene variant known to elevate risk. Shown is an image of a brain with a buildup of amyloid deposits (highest amounts in yellow and red) that collect to form senile plaques in patients with Alzheimer’s.
Ignorance is sometimes bliss

Ignorance is sometimes bliss

Evolutionary biologist W.D. Hamilton predicted that organisms ought to evolve the ability to discriminate degrees of kinship so as to refine their ability to direct help to individuals with whom they shared the most genes. But two WUSTL biologists point out that there seem to be many cases where “a veil of ignorance” prevents organisms from gaining this kind of information, forcing them to consider a situation from the perspective of all members of their group instead of solely from their own perspective or that of their close kin.

‘The new Jim Crow’: Michelle Alexander explains how our prison system condemns many African Americans to second-class status

In Michelle Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow, the civil rights lawyer and professor offers surprising revelations about how our current prison system and drug policies are condeming a large population of African Americans to a life of second-class statush. Alexander will deliver a lecture on the subject at noon on Friday, November 1 for the Assembly Series and the Law School’s Public Interest Law and Policy Speakers Series.

Lorraine Goffe-Rush to become next vice chancellor for human resources

Lorraine A. Goffe-Rush, assistant vice chancellor for human resources at Washington University in St. Louis, has been named vice chancellor for human resources, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. Goffe-Rush will succeed Ann B. Prenatt, vice chancellor for human resources since 2003, when she retires Dec. 31.

Butterfly Garden celebrates 17th birthday, honors longtime leaders

The 17th birthday celebration of the Elizabeth Danforth Butterfly Garden, held Oct. 6, drew 60 guests to enjoy the garden and honor longtime volunteer leader Jean Davis. The garden was dedicated in 1996 in honor of Elizabeth Gray Danforth, the late wife of Washington University Chancellor Emeritus William Danforth.
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