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Evolution@Vanderbilt

Science

Gianni Castiglione stands in a lab at Vanderbilt University surrounded by scientific equipment, including pipettes, a centrifuge, and ice buckets. He wears glasses and a light blue button-down shirt, smiling slightly with one hand at his side. A caption in a black box reads: “New research from the Castiglione Lab shows how one rare mutation supercharged equine energy.” The Evolutionary Studies Initiative logo is in the top right corner, and a purple border outlines the image.

Castiglione Lab Discover Horses Run Faster by Ignoring an Ancient Mutation that Says ‘Stop’

Mar. 27, 2025—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Evolution often makes a deal with the devil, creating challenges for treating human disease. By mass, the muscles of thoroughbred racehorses consume more than twice the oxygen of elite human athletes. Yet, oxygen produces free radicals, which damage organ tissues. Balancing energy production with oxidative stress is also...

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