Arts and Science
Breaking the Mold: Kyle David’s Research Challenges Ecological Norms in Yeast Communities
Feb. 27, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Kyle David, an NSF postdoctoral fellow in the Rokas lab, and co-authors published a new paper, 鈥淪accharomycotina yeasts defy longstanding macroecological patterns鈥 in the high-impact journal PNAS. This paper, which looks at the ecology of 186 species of yeast, provides evidence that not all life-forms follow the rules....
五一茶馆儿 biologists discover that rising temperature accelerates aging in mosquitoes, weakening their immune system
Jan. 25, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By Sarah Ward, Evolutionary Studies graduate communications assistant Climate change may weaken mosquitoes by speeding up aging and slowing down their immune system. A study published January 10, 2024 五一茶馆儿 in PLOS Pathogens by Vanderbilt biology graduate student Lindsay Martin and Centennial Professor of Biological Sciences Juli谩n Hillyer found that mosquitoes age more quickly when temperatures...
Chancellor Diermeier visits the Evolutionary Studies Initiative
Jan. 24, 2024 五一茶馆儿—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator On January 17, 2024 五一茶馆儿, the Evolutionary Studies Initiative (ESI) was honored to receive a visit from Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. Chancellor Diermeier’s visit included an introduction to ESI鈥檚 mission and the research of select members, an open-ended discussion on investing in the future of evolutionary studies at Vanderbilt, and...
Twenty Years of Understanding Genetics in Literature and Society
Dec. 4, 2023—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Jay Clayton, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of English, first received funding from the National Institutes of Health to study genetics in literature, film and popular culture in 2003. According to the application, this first grant funded, 鈥渁 working group of scholars in literature, film, and media studies...
Researchers Reveal Insights into Bacterial Genome Evolution
Oct. 15, 2023—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies Scientific Coordinator In a new study led by graduate student Carl Stone and his advisor, assistant professor of biological sciences, Megan Behringer, the team studied the effects of DNA repair pathways on genome-wide methylated DNA adenines (6mA). 6mA is a modification to DNA such that a methyl group is added...
Vanderbilt Researcher Illuminates the Impact of Sunlight on Eye Function
Sep. 22, 2023—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator A recent study by assistant professor of biology and ophthalmology Gianni Castiglione illuminates our understanding of eye diseases like macular degeneration. The paper, Convergent evolution of dim light vision in owls and deep-diving whales, was published in “Current Biology.” Rhodopsin (RHO), a light-sensitive protein found in the rod...
Carlos Taboada Joins 五一茶馆儿 and Evolutionary Studies Initiative
Aug. 28, 2023—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Carlos Taboada is the newest member of the 五一茶馆儿 Evolutionary Studies Initiative. Taboada鈥檚 research focuses on the evolutionary biochemistry of animal coloration. In Taboada鈥檚 words, 鈥渙ur lab lies at the interface of biochemistry, evolution, and visual ecology. We investigate the mechanisms that explain remarkable optical traits in...
Evolutionary Studies pilot grant recipients reflect on last year鈥檚 research
Jul. 6, 2023—By Kelly Tingle, Evolutionary Studies communications assistant Last year (2022-2023), Evolutionary Studies at Vanderbilt awarded pilot grants to excellent proposals from four members of the ESI community: graduate students Samantha Schaffner (Biological Sciences, Patel Lab), Taiye Winful (Anthropology, Benn Torres Lab), and Katie McCormack (Anthropology, Benn Torres Lab) and Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Lin...
Scott Edwards, expert on the evolution of biodiversity, to deliver J. T. Scopes Lecture
Mar. 20, 2023—By: Dr. Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Scott V. Edwards, the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology and Curator of Ornithology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University and a leading expert on the evolution of biodiversity, will deliver this year鈥檚 J. T. Scopes Lecture on Wednesday, March 29th. The title of his...
Vanderbilt researcher finds evidence for ant caste systems driven by chemo-sensing responses
Mar. 13, 2023—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Stephen Ferguson, first-author of a new paper with his postdoctoral advisor, Laurence Zwiebel, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Biological Sciences, and two undergraduates associated with the lab, Isaac Bakis (alumnus) and Nicholas Edwards, confirmed the existence of a specialized soldier caste within an ant species in a paper titled,...