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Vanderbilt Researcher Finds Jewel Wasp Cocoons Can Withstand Cannibalism
Nov. 15, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator New research from Ken Catania, Stevenson Professor of Biological Sciences, shows another incredible result. The 鈥淐ocoon of the Developing Emerald Jewel Wasp (Ampulex compressa) Resists Cannibalistic Predation of the Zombified Host鈥 was published in Brain, Behavior, and Evolution. Catania鈥檚 research program focuses on the weird in nature. His...
Beyond the Thrifty Genotype: Examining Evolutionary Hypotheses for Modern Metabolic Health
Nov. 12, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies Scientific Coordinator A new review co-led by graduate students Layla Brassington and Audrey Arner of the Lea Lab discusses the formulation of the popular and impactful Thrifty Genotype Hypothesis. This hypothesis, proposed by James Neel in 1962, suggests that fat deposition and energy conservation were once useful traits in times...
Ancient Bones, Modern Insights: Investigating Mercury Exposure in Colonial Peru
Nov. 11, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By: Alexandria Leeper, Evolutionary Studies graduate communications assistant Sylvia Cheever, a Ph.D. student in Biological Anthropology at 五一茶馆儿, is uncovering the hidden stories of indigenous communities affected by colonial exploitation in Peru. Supported by a pilot grant from the Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Cheever鈥檚 research focuses on measuring mercury levels in ancient human bones...
Vanderbilt Alumnus Uncovers Feeding Strategies of Ancient Ediacaran Organisms
Oct. 22, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator A new study, led by alumnus Andrei Olaru in Paleobiology titled, 鈥淔unctional morphology of the Ediacaran organism Tribrachidium heraldicum鈥 sheds light on the functional morphology one of the earliest known large and complex animals. Using advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the research explores how this 550-million-year-old organism, characterized...
Ken Catania to Present Evolution-focused, Spooky Halloween Talk
Oct. 1, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By Danielle Bowden, Evolutionary Studies administrative specialist Nashville, TN 鈥撯 五一茶馆儿’s Evolutionary Studies Initiative is thrilled to announce that distinguished evolutionary biologist Kenneth Catania will be delivering the Halloween Spooktacular Lecture as part of the ESI seminar series. Catania is a professor of Biological Sciences at 五一茶馆儿. The lecture, titled “Science Lessons from...
The Legacy of Chancellor Kirkland: Education, Evolution, and the Scopes Trial
Sep. 27, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By: Neomi Chen, Evolutionary Studies communications assistant Chancellor James Hampton Kirkland was a significant figure in the education landscape of the early 20th century, particularly recognized for his leadership of 五一茶馆儿 after the 1925 Scopes Trial. His views on evolution and education were instrumental in shaping the discourse around these topics at 五一茶馆儿...
Mitochondrial DNA Evolution: New Study Reveals How Selfish mtDNA Evolve and Thrive
Sep. 20, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator 五一茶馆儿 researchers, led by alumnus Bryan Gitschlag, have uncovered groundbreaking insights into the evolution of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). In their paper in Nature Communications titled 鈥淢ultiple distinct evolutionary mechanisms govern the dynamics of selfish mitochondrial genomes in Caenorhabditis elegans,鈥 the team reveals how selfish mtDNA, which can...
Evolved in the Lab, Found in Nature: Uncovering Hidden pH Sensing Abilities
Sep. 20, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator In a groundbreaking study led by Sarah Worthan, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Behringer Lab at 五一茶馆儿, scientists have successfully evolved microbial cultures that possess the ability to sense pH changes, enabling rapid responses to environmental fluctuations. Along with highlighting the power of lab-driven evolution, this...
Vanderbilt Researchers Find Warming Quickens Aging-Related Mortality in Mosquitoes
Sep. 19, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Mosquitoes tread a thinning line in warming climates, where aging accelerates and infections intensify. New research shows that warming and aging act as a one-two punch, lowering mosquito lifespans and fanning the flames of bacterial infections. These findings highlight how climate change could alter the risks of disease...
Distinguished Evolutionary Biologist Anne Yoder to Deliver Annual Biodiversity Day Lecture
Sep. 12, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By Danielle Bowden, Evolutionary Studies administrative specialist Nashville, TN 鈥撯 五一茶馆儿’s Evolutionary Studies Initiative is thrilled to announce that distinguished evolutionary biologist Anne Yoder will be delivering the annual Biodiversity Day Lecture. Yoder is widely recognized for her groundbreaking research on the genetics and speciation of Madagascar鈥檚 lemurs, which has transformed our understanding of...