# Research School of BiologyANU College of Science and Medicine
**Source**: https://biology.anu.edu.au/
**Parent**: https://www.anu.edu.au/science-innovative-technology
[Discovery of tiny RNA fragments unlock giant potential for new autoimmune disease treatments](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/discovery-tiny-rna-fragments-unlock-giant-potential-new-autoimmune-disease)
[Read the article](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/discovery-tiny-rna-fragments-unlock-giant-potential-new-autoimmune-disease)
[Nature inspires ANU tech to help recover trillions of dollars in critical resources](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/nature-inspires-anu-tech-help-recover-trillions-dollars-critical-resources)
[Read the article](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/nature-inspires-anu-tech-help-recover-trillions-dollars-critical-resources)
[Island ant communities show signs of unseen ‘insect apocalypse’](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/island-ant-communities-show-signs-unseen-insect-apocalypse)
[Read the article](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/island-ant-communities-show-signs-unseen-insect-apocalypse)
## Research School of Biology
The ANU Research School of Biology (RSB) carries out research in a wide range of biological and biomedical sciences and oversees the University's Biology curriculum, with a diverse offering of courses across both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
[About us](https://biology.anu.edu.au/about "About") [People directory](https://biology.anu.edu.au/people "People") [News & events](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events "News & events") [Contact us](https://biology.anu.edu.au/contacts "Contacts")
## [Research »](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research "Research")
### [Research impact](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/research-impact)
### [Divisions](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/divisions)
### [Awards](https://biology.anu.edu.au/about/awards)
### [Research groups](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/research-groups)
### [Themes](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/research-themes)
### [Centres & units](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/centres)
### [Facilities](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/facilities)
### [Postdoctoral opportunities](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/postdoctoral-opportunities)
## [Study »](https://biology.anu.edu.au/study "Research")
### [Bachelor degrees](https://biology.anu.edu.au/study/bachelor-degrees)
### [PhD & MPhil](https://biology.anu.edu.au/study/phd-mphil)
### [Prizes & Scholarships](https://biology.anu.edu.au/study/rsb-student-scholarships-prizes)
### [Master degrees](https://biology.anu.edu.au/study/master-degrees)
### [Student projects](https://biology.anu.edu.au/study/student-projects)
### [School enrichment & outreach](https://biology.anu.edu.au/study/school-enrichment-outreach)
## Get involved
[Research opportunities](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/divisions "Divisions") [Postdoctoral opportunities](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/postdoctoral-opportunities "Postdoctoral opportunities") [Study opportunities](https://biology.anu.edu.au/study/bachelor-degrees "Bachelor degrees") [Job opportunities](https://jobs.anu.edu.au/jobs/search) [RSB alumni](https://biology.anu.edu.au/alumni-friends "Alumni & friends") [Giving](https://biology.anu.edu.au/giving "Giving")
## [News »](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news "News")
Friday, 27 Feb 2026
### [Discovery of tiny RNA fragments unlock giant potential for new autoimmune disease treatments](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/discovery-tiny-rna-fragments-unlock-giant-potential-new-autoimmune-disease)
Extremely short, or tiny, fragments of RNA – working copies of our genetic code – play a critical role in keeping the immune system in check, preventing inflammation and the onset of autoimmune disease, according to an international team of researchers led by scientists from The Hudson Institute of Medical Research in collaboration with The Australian National University (ANU).
[Read the article](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/discovery-tiny-rna-fragments-unlock-giant-potential-new-autoimmune-disease)
Wednesday, 22 Oct 2025
### [A medal from the King: ANU plant science legends recognised](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/medal-king-anu-plant-science-legends-recognised)
Plant scientists Professor Graham Farquhar and Professor Susanne von Caemmerer transformed the world's understanding of photosynthesis, now they're receiving one of the Commonwealth's top honours for their research.
[Read the article](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/medal-king-anu-plant-science-legends-recognised)
Thursday, 16 Oct 2025
### [Australia’s rainforests first to switch from carbon sink to source](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/australias-rainforests-first-switch-carbon-sink-source)
The trunks and branches of trees in Australia’s tropical rainforests – also known as woody biomass – have become a net source of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, according to a new international study.
[Read the article](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/australias-rainforests-first-switch-carbon-sink-source)
## [Events »](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/events "Events")
11 Mar 2026 | 4 - 5pm
### [E&E PhD Exit seminar- Patterns and Limits of Phenotypic Plasticity in Guppies Across Ecological Contexts](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/events/ee-phd-exit-seminar-patterns-and-limits-phenotypic-plasticity-guppies-across)
Phenotypic plasticity is an important adaptation for organisms that live under fluctuating environmental conditions.
[View the event](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/events/ee-phd-exit-seminar-patterns-and-limits-phenotypic-plasticity-guppies-across)
19 Mar 2026 | 1 - 2pm
### [E&E Seminar Series - Characterising gradual and punctuated evolution using phlyogenetics](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/events/ee-seminar-series-characterising-gradual-and-punctuated-evolution-using)
The molecular clock hypothesis proposes that evolutionary change occurs as a temporally regular process, occurring at a rate that might fluctuate through time, but still remains more-or-less consistent.
[View the event](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/events/ee-seminar-series-characterising-gradual-and-punctuated-evolution-using)
## Keep exploring
[RSB newsletter](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/newsletters "Newsletters") [Past seminar recordings](https://biology.anu.edu.au/news-events/event-recordings "Event recordings") [Research stories](https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/research-stories "Research stories") [History of Biology at ANU](https://biology.anu.edu.au/about/history-biology-anu "The history of Biology at ANU")
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