Biological Sciences
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Today’s budding yeasts shed traits from their 400-million-year-old ancestor
Evolutionary biologists decoded the genomes of nearly a third of known budding yeast species, allowing them to reconstruct an ancient parent’s metabolic characteristics. Read MoreNov 8, 2018
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Karate kicks keep cockroaches from becoming zombies, wasp chow
Far from being a weak-willed sap easily paralyzed by the emerald jewel wasp’s sting to the brain, the cockroach can deliver a stunning karate kick that saves its life, biologist Ken Catania has found. Read MoreOct 31, 2018
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Why does it take humans so long to mature compared to other animals? Look to your neurons!
How long humans and other warm-blooded animals live—and when they reach sexual maturity—may have more to do with neurons in their cortex than body size or mass, according to new research by Associate Professor of Psychology Suzana Herculano-Houzel. Read MoreOct 30, 2018
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Two proteins slow down the train of DNA replication in Drosophila
This work was the foundation for an NSF grant to interrogate how the Rif1 protein controls DNA replication. Read MoreOct 29, 2018
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Studying cellular deliveries
James Patton and colleagues have demonstrated how colon cancer cells transmit genetic data to other cells. Read MoreOct 26, 2018
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High-speed atomic force microscopy reveals clock protein interactions
Prof. Carl Johnson and his team discovered on-and-off interactions between KaiA and KaiC take only seconds but combine to create a 24-hour oscillation of phosphorylation in a test tube. Read MoreAug 20, 2018
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New committee advances research through limited submission opportunities
Twenty faculty members have been appointed to the new Limited Submission Opportunities Plus review committee to help bring innovative research to the attention of external sponsors. Read MoreAug 16, 2018
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Oak Ridge and Vanderbilt come together to explore cellular processes
Vanderbilt University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are combining their expertise in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computation to address pressing problems in biology. Read MoreJul 5, 2018
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Abbot’s new book is ‘one-stop destination’ on animal social evolution
Patrick Abbot, associate professor of biological sciences, recently published an edited volume entitled "Comparative Social Evolution," an updated companion book to E.O. Wilson’s famous 1975 tome. Read MoreJun 8, 2018
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Building the tiniest recording studios in Music City to understand vocal learning
Humans aren't the only animals who can learn vocal communication from others. By studying the process in zebra finches, we may better understand how it works in humans, too. Read MoreJun 4, 2018
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Insect gene allows reproductive organs to cope with harmful bacteria
Bordenstein’s team studied Nasonia parasitic wasps, which are about the size of a sesame seed, and they serve as one of the best models to dissect and characterize the evolution of insect genomes. Read MoreMay 17, 2018
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Unraveling genetic mystery next step in Zika and dengue fight
How a bacteria hijacked insect fertility remained a mystery for five decades, until Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Seth Bordenstein and his team helped solve it. Read MoreApr 23, 2018
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MIT’s Orr-Weaver wraps up spring Discovery Lecture series April 26
The spring Flexner Discovery Lecture series wraps up on Thursday, April 26, with a presentation by Terry Orr-Weaver, PhD, professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Read MoreApr 19, 2018
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Three Vanderbilt A&S professors awarded 2018 Guggenheim Fellowships
College of Arts and Science professors Joel Harrington, Antonis Rokas and Edward Wright-Rios have been awarded highly prestigious 2018 Guggenheim Fellowships for their research. Read MoreApr 5, 2018
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Interdisciplinary approach yields new insights into human evolution
Vanderbilt biologist Nicole Creanza is the guest editor of a new themed issue of "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B" highlighting interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human evolution. Read MoreFeb 12, 2018
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The 20 most popular research stories of 2017
New clues to Alzheimer's disease, helping kids deal with stress, understanding why our universe is three-dimensional and—of course—electric eels all appear in this year's look back on the research stories that were visited the most frequently on Vanderbilt's website in 2017. Read MoreDec 15, 2017
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Chancellor presents Biological Sciences’ Wiley with Heart and Soul Award
Carol Wiley, grant manager for the Department of Biological Sciences and a 17-year veteran of the university, is the latest recipient of the Chancellor’s Heart and Soul Staff Appreciation Award. Read MoreNov 8, 2017
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Herculano-Houzel featured at (Lunch) Box talk Nov. 1
A noted neuroscientist who studies the number of neurons present in the brains of different species, including humans, will discuss her groundbreaking work during a lunchtime talk Wednesday, Nov. 1. Read MoreOct 30, 2017
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Cell signals that trigger wound healing are surprisingly complex
Vanderbilt scientists have taken an important step toward understanding the way in which injured cells trigger wound healing, an insight essential for improving treatments of all types of wounds. Read MoreOct 3, 2017
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Biologist reaches into electric eel tank, comes out with equation to measure shocks
Ken Catania stuck his arm into a tank with an electric eel 10 times -- the only way to get accurate measurements of the circuit created by animal, arm and water. Read MoreSep 14, 2017