News & Events

Ken Catania sitting in his office holding a staff with a skull reproduction.

Vanderbilt Researcher Finds Jewel Wasp Cocoons Can Withstand Cannibalism

Nov. 15, 2024—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator New research from Ken Catania, Stevenson Professor of Biological Sciences, shows another incredible result. The “Cocoon of the Developing Emerald Jewel Wasp (Ampulex compressa) Resists Cannibalistic Predation of the Zombified Host” was published in Brain, Behavior, and Evolution. Catania’s research program focuses on the weird in nature. His...

A group of people is seated on a brightly patterned mat inside a rustic room. A local man smiles and waves at the camera, while others, including two researchers using tablet devices, sit nearby. The background includes personal belongings and a small fan, giving the space a homely feel.

Beyond the Thrifty Genotype: Examining Evolutionary Hypotheses for Modern Metabolic Health

Nov. 12, 2024—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...

Sylvia Cheever, a Ph.D. student in Biological Anthropology, stands outside a trace metal clean laboratory in protective lab gear, including a yellow hair cover, goggles, and a white lab coat.

Ancient Bones, Modern Insights: Investigating Mercury Exposure in Colonial Peru

Nov. 11, 2024—By: Alexandria Leeper, Evolutionary Studies graduate communications assistant Sylvia Cheever, a Ph.D. student in Biological Anthropology at Vanderbilt University, 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’s research focuses on measuring mercury levels in ancient human bones...

Vanderbilt Alumnus Uncovers Feeding Strategies of Ancient Ediacaran Organisms

Oct. 22, 2024—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator A new study, led by alumnus Andrei Olaru in Paleobiology titled, “Functional morphology of the Ediacaran organism Tribrachidium heraldicum” 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—By Danielle Bowden, Evolutionary Studies administrative specialist Nashville, TN –– Vanderbilt University’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 Vanderbilt University. The lecture, titled “Science Lessons from...

An older man with glasses and hearing aids, dressed in a tan suit, holding a piece of bread and a hat, is in conversation with a younger man in a blue suit and tie outdoors, surrounded by greenery

The Legacy of Chancellor Kirkland: Education, Evolution, and the Scopes Trial

Sep. 27, 2024—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 Vanderbilt University after the 1925 Scopes Trial. His views on evolution and education were instrumental in shaping the discourse around these topics at Vanderbilt University...

The image depicts a layered conceptual illustration of selfish mitochondrial genomes undergoing selection at multiple levels. The bottom layer features scientists working at computers and conducting lab experiments, symbolizing empirical research. The middle layer shows a tiered structure with enlarged mitochondria, emphasizing the levels of selection within organisms. Surrounding elements include graphs, lab equipment, and symbolic representations of data analysis, highlighting the integration of experimental and mathematical modeling without any textual elements. The overall scene captures the complexity and interconnectedness of mitochondrial genome selection in a visually engaging and educational format.

Mitochondrial DNA Evolution: New Study Reveals How Selfish mtDNA Evolve and Thrive

Sep. 20, 2024—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Vanderbilt University researchers, led by alumnus Bryan Gitschlag, have uncovered groundbreaking insights into the evolution of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). In their paper in Nature Communications titled “Multiple distinct evolutionary mechanisms govern the dynamics of selfish mitochondrial genomes in Caenorhabditis elegans,” the team reveals how selfish mtDNA, which can...

Evolved in the Lab, Found in Nature: Uncovering Hidden pH Sensing Abilities

Sep. 20, 2024—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 Vanderbilt University, 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—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—By Danielle Bowden, Evolutionary Studies administrative specialist Nashville, TN –– Vanderbilt University’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’s lemurs, which has transformed our understanding of...

Vanderbilt Anthropologist Explores How Different Childcare Models Affect Child Health in Working Families

Sep. 12, 2024—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator A new study co-authored by Monica Keith, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, provides insights into how different childcare models affect child health outcomes in working families. The research, focused on subsistence-based, semi-nomadic Shodagor communities in Bangladesh, highlights the crucial role of maternal care and effective substitutes in maintaining child...

Two side-by-side images. On the left, a petri dish containing a fluffy white fungal colony with several circular growth patterns, representing a laboratory culture of the fungus Aspergillus. On the right, a close-up microscopic image showing the detailed structure of an Aspergillus spore head, with a dense cluster of greenish spores radiating from a central point, displaying the intricate texture and morphology of the fungal spores.

Researchers Discover Wide Variation in Virulence of Non-Pathogenic Fungi

Sep. 11, 2024—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator A new study led by research assistant professor David Rinker sheds light on how fungal pathogenicity might evolve. The article, “Strain heterogeneity in a non-pathogenic Aspergillus fungus highlights factors associated with virulence,” was published in the journal Communications Biology in September 2024. According to Rinker, “different isolates or...

A close-up of a hand holding a clear plastic container filled with muddy water and several large, segmented, worm-like organisms. The container appears to be covered in mud both inside and around the edges. The worms are light brown in color and vary in size.

Graduate Student Sheds Light on Ancient Worms as Early Ecosystem Engineers

Sep. 10, 2024—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Graduate student Kat Turk from Vanderbilt University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, along with an international team of collaborators, has uncovered new evidence that ancient priapulid worms, through their burrowing behavior, may have been some of the earliest ecosystem engineers. The study, “Priapulid neoichnology, ecosystem engineering, and...

A cartoon of an anthropomorphized cyanobacterium with a smooth green skin layer, enjoying a sunny summer day while lying on a beach chair. The cyanobacterium has a happy expression and is thinking about snow falling from a cloud, with a snowy landscape in the background.

Researchers Discover the Evolution of Seasonal Anticipation in Cyanobacteria

Sep. 6, 2024—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Being able to correlate changes in day length with seasonal weather patterns is crucial for many organisms to adapt to their environments. Trees shed their leaves, arctic foxes grow thicker coats, and bears prepare for hibernation. But what about smaller, short-lived organisms? New research led by BBSRC Discovery...

A historical museum exhibit featuring a large fossilized skeleton of a prehistoric animal mounted vertically on a wooden support, with its ribcage and skull prominently displayed. In the foreground, there is a large tusk and skull of a mastodon. Multiple glass display cases filled with various fossils and geological specimens are arranged around the room. The room has tall windows with arched tops, a wooden ceiling with exposed beams, and framed pictures hanging on the walls.

Rediscovering the Lost Plesiosaur (Cast): Restoring Vanderbilt’s Natural History Museum

Aug. 27, 2024—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Embarking on a new research project often brings unexpected discoveries—some intriguing, some novel, but rarely a find of a lifetime. Such a remarkable discovery occurred when university archivist and associate director Kathy Smith stumbled upon a pile of plaster, hidden away for 60 years in a dim, cluttered...

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