Department of Biology

In a tiny island laboratory in the Northwesternmost corner of Washington, one marine biologist is on a mission: Scan every known fish species in the world.

Scientists have thought the nightshade family came into existence about 40 million years ago, but the discovery of two new fossils pushes the age of the family back considerably further.

Fossils from a dinosaur-era mammal unearthed in Montana and North Dakota have helped UW scientists establish that the animal had, pound-for-pound, the strongest bite force of any mammal ever recorded.

KOMO Radio's Herb Weisbaum interviews Billie Swalla, professor of biology and director of UW's Friday Harbor Labs, about a new study exploring limb regeneration. 

Viola Miller, 8, opened her piggy bank to support penguin research.

Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at UW, shares his insights on why biggest isn't necessarily the best when it comes to deer antlers and lion manes.

In UW Biology we are fueled by what if. We are driven by curiosity and a belief in what's possible. And we believe it's possible to transform the way biological research and teaching are done.

Our 'close relatives' acorn worms can regrow every major body part after being cut in half.

A long-term study by UW's P .Dee Boersma shows the subtle hand of natural selection on Argentina’s Magellanic penguins.

The loss of forests worldwide appears to interact synergistically to produce unpredictable effects on the global climate.

Climate models reveal possibility of woodland El Niño.

A team of scientists examining seized shipments of elephant tusks from Africa have found that the vast majority of the ivory came from elephants that died within the last 3 years.

Technology by itself will not save pangolins or elephants, but it can help make major progress.

A research team led by University of Washington biology professor Tom Daniel has teased out how hawkmoths integrate signals from two sensory systems: vision and touch.

UW biologists use Tucker, a rescue dog, to gather information about killer whales.