91������̳

“Our study provides the most detailed insights yet into how Neanderthal gene flow impacted human genomes,” says Benjamin Peter, an assistant professor in the University’s Department of Biology. “It helps us understand when Neanderthals and humans interacted, which Neanderthal genes were beneficial for our ancestors, and the forces that influenced genetic diversity and shaped the course of human evolution.”

Scientists at the have replicated this remarkable material in the lab, using bacteria and enzymes from sea sponges to create tiny microlenses that mimic the sea sponge’s natural ability to combine strength and lightness. In a , the team—including scientists from the University of Colorado–Boulder, Delft University of Technology, and Leiden University—reports that the bioinspired material could pave the way toward specialized image sensors for medical and commercial uses. By applying the remarkable properties of sea sponges, the researchers unlock new possibilities for creating sustainable and efficient materials that mimic the natural world.

“We’re really excited about this work,” says Amanda Larracuente, the Nathaniel and Helen Wisch Professor of , oversaw the research that led to the findings, .

In October, the team—called Team CyanoVolt—submitted their research to the 2024 where student-led teams from around the globe compete to tackle real-world challenges using synthetic biology. Synthetic biology leverages engineering principles to create biological components inspired by nature.

Whether you give a mouse a cookie, as the book title goes, or kale leaves, or hot-stone massages, they will not live longer than two to three years. But other mammals, like naked mole rats and bowhead whales, can live much longer—and perhaps can teach us to follow suit.

Dragony Fu, an associate professor of biology, has been jointly appointed as the Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teaching Professor.

Formed in 1848, AAAS is the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society and the publisher of leading research through its Science family of journals. Designation as an AAAS fellow is a distinguished lifetime honor within the scientific community. The latest class comprises 502 scientists, engineers, and innovators across 24 AAAS disciplinary sections.

Kejia Zhang awarded a 91������̳ Agnes M. Messersmith and George Messersmith Dissertation Fellowship for 2024-2025

Kejia Zhang (PhD student, Fu Lab) has been awarded a 91������̳ Agnes M. Messersmith and George Messersmith Dissertation Fellowship for 2024-2025! This fellowship was first endowed by the Messersmith family in 1958 to support graduate students across disciplines in the sciences.It is one of the University’s most competitive dissertation fellowships and is given to students who display exceptional ability and promise. The award will offer stipend support for Kejia’s dissertation work on “Elucidating the role of tRNA Methyltransferase 1 in tRNA Integrity, Translation and Neurodevelopment”.

“We have been aware of many of the mating cues this species uses, but this is the first time we have been able to look at them together to learn more about what they tell a male about a potential mate,” , professor of Biomedical Genetics said. “Assessing a mate’s characteristics seems to be something that only the male does. Understanding sex differences in C. elegans gives us important insight into how genes influence the function of neurons and circuits to guide innate behaviors—like choosing a mate.”

Graduate student Sakura Hamazaki awarded the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation Fellowship

Congratulations to graduate student Sakura Hamazaki for being awarded the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation Fellowship for her grant application entitled “Impact of calcium entry through Cav1.1 in myotonic dystrophy myopathy” to the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (MDF) 2024 Research Fellowship Program. 

“If we are currently witnessing mRNA vaccine 1.0 for COVID-19, then 2.0 will address two further categories of disease,” says Dragony Fu, an associate professor of biology. “One is pathogens, like SARS, but you can apply this technology to other foreign invaders such as HIV. Already before COVID, companies were in development making mRNA vaccines against HIV. The other category is autoimmune diseases,” he says. “That is intriguing because it’s verging beyond the very strict definition of a vaccine.”

Biochemistry major, Margaret (“Maggie”) Hoare ’24, receives Beckman Scholarship for research

Two 91������̳ students have been named recipients of the , an institutional award that allows undergraduates in the fields of chemistry, biological sciences, and interdisciplinary combinations to work with faculty mentors for a 15-month research experience. This year’s 91������̳ recipients are: 

It is well known in developmental biology that a mother’s egg provides abundant nutrients that are essential for an embryo to develop. But does it matter where in the developing embryo the nutrients are stored?

In a groundbreaking endeavor, researchers at the have successfully transferred a longevity gene from naked mole rats to mice, resulting in improved health and an extension of the mouse’s lifespan.

Within our cells are structures called lipid droplets that serve as storage units for energy in the form of lipids or fats. Because fat is an important energy source for cells and organisms, scientists had long assumed that lipid droplets had a straightforward role during egg production, as energy providers for the developing embryo.

Department of Biology members win awards at Genetics Day 2023

One of the most popular activities during Genetics Day is the poster session. Postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates are invited to enter their poster, and each is evaluated by a panel of judges.  This year, judges gave out six poster prizes, four in the grad student category, one in the postdoc category, and one in the undergraduate category.

Jeremy Summers awarded Edward Peck Curtis Award for graduate student teaching

Graduate student, Jeremy Summers, has been awarded a 2023 Edward Peck Curtis Award for graduate student teaching, given to a small number of full-time graduate students who have a role in undergraduate education. Recipients have assisted in undergraduate instruction, and have had significant face-to-face interactions with undergraduates in the classroom or laboratory. .

Jenna Lentini and Ethan Walker win 2023 JBC Herbert Tabor Early Career Investigator Awards

Former graduate students Jenna Lentini and Ethan Walker have been given the . Named for the late editor-in-chief of the JBC, these awards recognize early-career scientists for their standout first-author papers published in the past year.  Winners will be giving oral presentations at this year’s annual ASBMB meeting, Discover BMB 2023, in Seattle from March 25 to 28, 2023.