Biological Sciences
-
Research Snapshot: Eat breakfast and stop late-night snacking
Eating a larger, protein-filled breakfast is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight. A smaller but still significant change would be to avoid late-night snacking. Est. reading time: 3.5 mins. Read MoreOct 28, 2021
-
Research Snapshot: Mosquito larvae are surprisingly complex
L.J. Zwiebel and his lab show that mosquito larvae, the age group targeted for most control programs, are far more sophisticated than previously thought. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreAug 17, 2021
-
Research Snapshot: Novel discovery describes the mechanisms of wound detection in the body
Pioneering research from Vanderbilt scientists discovers the mechanism by which epithelial cells first find and react to wounds. Est. reading time: 3 mins. Read MoreJul 27, 2021
-
Research Snapshot: Bees can tell time by temperature, Vanderbilt research finds
Biological scientist discovers the third way by which bees can tell time: temperature. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreMay 20, 2021
-
Nine faculty named 2021 Chancellor Faculty Fellows
Nine outstanding faculty members from across the university have been selected for the 2021 cohort of Chancellor Faculty Fellows. This group is composed of highly accomplished, recently tenured faculty from a wide variety of disciplines and areas of expertise. Read MoreMay 12, 2021
-
Vanderbilt researcher explains Pizzly bear hybrid species
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Larisa DeSantis discusses pizzly bears (grizzy + polar bear hybrid species)! Read MoreApr 20, 2021
-
Diet of Homotherium sabertooth cat included baby mammoths, according to new research
Chemical signatures and microscopic wear patterns in dental fossils show that the diet of sabertooth cats included mammoths. Read MoreApr 15, 2021
-
Vanderbilt research shows how polar bears maintained highly specialized diets during periods of Arctic warming—until now
Dental analysis from Larisa DeSantis shows that polar bears may not be able to compete for food sources as their environment melts away. Read MoreApr 1, 2021
-
Bordenstein elected to American Academy of Microbiology
Seth Bordenstein, Centennial Professor of Biological Sciences and director of the Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, has been elected to fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology. Read MoreMar 2, 2021
-
Newly discovered molecule disrupts virus infections through protein quality control pathways
Molecule 147 neutralizes 95 percent of Dengue and Zika viruses, a promising direction for host-directed treatments and combination therapy. Read MoreJan 26, 2021
-
Immune and circulatory systems are functionally integrated in all insects, Vanderbilt biologists demonstrate
A new study shows that insect immune and circulatory systems cooperate to fight infection, similar to those in mammals. Read MoreDec 16, 2020
-
Analysis of ancient teeth reveal clues about how sociopolitical systems grow
Isotope analysis of ancient Peruvian teeth gives anthropologists a clearer image of how cooperating societies function. Read MoreDec 15, 2020
-
To understand how SARS-CoV-2 replicates, Vanderbilt scientists look at host cell-virus interactions
Understanding the function of host cells when infected with SARS-CoV-2 may lead to host-directed antiviral therapeutics. Read MoreDec 7, 2020
-
Six Vanderbilt faculty elected as AAAS fellows in 2020
Six Vanderbilt University faculty members have been elected 2020 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. Read MoreNov 24, 2020
-
Honey bees lose sleep after ingesting pesticides, leading to greater stress and lower hive survival rates
Vanderbilt research shows the unintended consequence of pesticides is the death of a bee’s circadian rhythm, not the bee herself. Read MoreNov 5, 2020
-
Vanderbilt paleontologists host National Fossil Day event for kids Oct. 10
Kids and lifelong learners can hear directly from paleontologists about bizarre creatures of the past during a free virtual National Fossil Day event on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. CT. Registration is required. Read MoreOct 2, 2020
-
Neanderthal DNA contributes to genetic diversity, bringing more understanding to human evolution
New research shows surprising effects of interbreeding between Neanderthals and ancestors of some modern humans. Read MoreJul 31, 2020
-
Get to know Vanderbilt’s residential faculty: Professor Douglas McMahon
As the new academic year approaches, Vanderbilt’s faculty heads of house are revealing some things about themselves in this special portrait series. Get to know Douglas McMahon, professor of biological sciences and faculty head of Crawford House. Read MoreJul 29, 2020
-
Vanderbilt develops computational method to explore evolution’s influence on preterm birth
The first comprehensive study of how diverse evolutionary forces influence the leading cause of infant mortality is led by Vanderbilt researchers. Read MoreJul 24, 2020
-
Amidon named 2020 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar
Katherine Amidon, a PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University, has been selected as the 2020 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar. Read MoreJul 22, 2020