Biological Sciences

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

New insights into the long-lasting effects of Fragile X syndrome on connections in the brain during early development highlight the importance of early detection and treatment. Read More

A team of biologists report a major advance in deciphering the molecular genetics underlying the ant's high-definition sense of smell, an ability that underpins their highly complex society. Read More

Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor in Biological Sciences Antonis Rokas has been selected as a finalist for the $250,000 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Read More

Following a collaborative rapid cycle process, an ad hoc faculty committee has released a report identifying four proposed thematic areas for future investment in graduate education and research at Vanderbilt. Read More

Donna J. Webb, professor of biological sciences and of cancer biology who mentored graduate students and undergraduate researchers in the Department of Biological Sciences and served on the Steering Committee of the Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-Ph.D. Bridge Program, died May 15. Read More

When Boston native Jarrod Shilts arrived at Vanderbilt, he brought with him a strong interest in synthetic biology—a discipline devoted to designing and creating biological molecules that don’t exist in the natural world and using them to redesign existing biological systems. Read More

Accomplished postdocs and faculty "Mentor of the Year" honored at annual Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association and Shared Resources Symposium April 19. Read More

Geneticists have developed an effective new method for identifying the genes that produce the chemicals plants use to protect themselves from predators, which are an important natural drug source. Read More

Structural details of a protein that removes DNA lesions shed light on fundamental mechanisms of DNA repair. Read More

A powerful new method has been devised to settle contentious phylogenetic tree-of-life issues. such as "What is the oldest branch of the animal family tree?" Read More

Research into retinal regeneration in zebrafish has identified a signal that appears to trigger the self-repair process, raising the possibility of inducing retinal repair in human eyes. Read More

Genes used by the insect parasite Wolbachia to control its hosts' reproduction can be used to help control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika and malaria. Read More

The duration of exposure to daylight, or the “photoperiod,” may affect development of seasonal affective disorder by programming serotonin neurons in the brain, according to Vanderbilt University researchers. Read More

Artificial kidneys, gay-straight alliances and junkyard batteries captured readers' attention in 2016. Read More