Christie Wilcox, PhD Author Profile | The Scientist Magazine®

Christie was a well-established science blogger and writer when she was awarded a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology with a specialization in ecology, evolution and conservation biology from the University of Hawai‘i in 2014 for her research on the genetics of lionfishes. A short two years later, she published her debut book Venomous: How Earth’s Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry, which received widespread acclaim, and after that, she fully left academia behind and established herself as a science writer and editor. She joined The Scientist in 2021 as newsletter editor and left as senior editor in 2023. She is a member of the Author’s Guild, the Northwest Science Writers Association, and the National Association of Science Writers.

Three covid rapid antigen tests displaying (left to right) invalid, positive, and negative results.

What Does a Positive Covid Test Look Like?

Christie Wilcox, PhD | May 10, 2024 | 7 min read

Lateral flow tests for COVID-19 can be very accurate and specific when used as directed, but introducing acidic fluids can cause the tests’ detecting antibodies to clump, which may read as a positive result.

A California Chinook Salmon Jumps into a waterfall during spawning season

Geneticists Light Up Debate on Salmon Conservation

Christie Wilcox, PhD | Feb 1, 2023 | 10+ min read

Splitting Chinook salmon into two groups based on their DNA could aid conservation efforts. But some researchers argue that this would be a misuse of the data.

Infographic comparing the fall and spring salmon runs

Infographic: An Incredible Journey

Christie Wilcox, PhD | Feb 1, 2023 | 1 min read

Chinook make their way up the Klamath River every year, but fewer and fewer arrive in the spring.

Timeline summarizing a series of petitions filed about the Chinook salmon

Timeline: An Extended Battle

Christie Wilcox, PhD | Feb 1, 2023 | 3 min read

Various concerned groups have been petitioning NOAA Fisheries to list spring-run Chinook salmon in Oregon and Northern California for over a decade.

Our Favorite Genetics Stories of 2022

Christie Wilcox, PhD | Dec 22, 2022 | 4 min read

This year’s stories highlight the expanding versatility of genetic techniques and the increasing utility of such research in all life science fields.

Genome Spotlight: Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)

Christie Wilcox, PhD | Dec 22, 2022 | 5 min read

A high-quality reference genome for this vulnerable feline may help scientists understand why they’re so prone to transitional cell carcinoma in captivity.

A lobed leaf next to a rounded leaf, both from the same Boquila trifoliolata vine

Can Plants See? In the Wake of a Controversial Study, the Answer’s Still Unclear

Christie Wilcox, PhD | Nov 30, 2022 | 10+ min read

A tiny pilot study found that so-called chameleon vines mimicked plastic leaves, but experts say poor study design and conflicts of interest undermine the report.

Genome Spotlight: Nile Rat (Avicanthis niloticus)

Christie Wilcox, PhD | Nov 23, 2022 | 4 min read

A reference sequence for this emerging model organism will facilitate research on type 2 diabetes and the health effects of circadian rhythm disruption.