Department of Biology

Over 100 UW graduate and professional programs have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report to be among the top 35 in the nation.

The oldest known primate fossils were dated to just after the extinction event 66 million years ago —suggesting some primate ancestors lived even longer ago. Gregory Wilson Mantilla, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Halley Greg (who graduated from UW with a double degree in biology and psychology) is on this season of The Voice.

In-class problem solving, group discussions and similar instructional approaches collectively known as active learning are more effective for student learning than lecture-based instruction, studies have shown. But many postsecondary instructors still spend the bulk of class time lecturing. Why resistance to active learning persists has not been clear. Scott Freeman, teaching professor emeritus in biology at the UW, is quoted.

Take a look back at the last year of the UW's research of and adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jawbones and an assortment of teeth found in the Hell’s Creek formation of northeastern Montana are the oldest primate fossils ever discovered, according to newly published research. Gregory Wilson Mantilla, Burke Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology and professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Biology professor Horacio de la Iglesia and biology postdoctoral researcher Leandro Casiraghi explain the results of their new study on the moon's effects on sleep.

Despite the option of “extending the end of the day” with artificial lighting in highly urbanized Seattle, UW biology professor Horacio de la Iglesia said UW students slept shorter hours in the days before a full moon, as did indigenous Argentinans with no electricity.

In a new study, a team of paleontologists analyzed tooth samples found in Montana and determined plesiadapiforms, an ancient taxon including primates’ oldest ancestor, likely emerged 65.9 million-years-ago and lived alongside dinosaurs. Gregory Wilson Mantilla, Burke Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology and professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Many scientists are expecting another rise in infections. But this time the surge will be blunted by vaccines and, hopefully, widespread caution. By summer, Americans may be looking at a return to normal life. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Researchers led by UW biology Professor Horacio de la Iglesia have found that whether you live in a rural or urban environment, your sleep patterns are affected by a full moon. On the nights leading up to full moon, people fall asleep later and sleep less overall.

The shapes of fossilized teeth from 65.9 million-year-old, squirrel-like creatures suggest that the branch of the tree of life that gave rise to humans and other primates flowered while dinosaurs still walked the earth. The UW’s Gregory Wilson Mantilla, Burke Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology and professor of biology, and Brody Hovatter, a graduate student in Earth and space sciences, are quoted.

Black-and-white tuxedos may be the conventional dress code in the penguin world, but one dashing individual is breaking the status quo with an à la mode yellow coat. Dee Boersma, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

In the contest over who could make the most accurate coronavirus forecast, it was global institutions versus a guy living with his parents in Santa Clara. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is mentioned.

Amid an acrid national controversy, the CDC proposed detailed criteria for returning students to classrooms. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.