Biology | Penn Today

T. rex had lips, upending its enduring pop culture image

Ali Nabavizadeh of the School of Veterinary Medicine comments on the validity of research demonstrating that non-avian theropods like T. rex had extra-oral tissues.

Could gut bacteria impact your motivation to exercise?

A study co-authored by Christoph Thaiss of the Perelman School of Medicine finds that the gut microbiome may affect motivation to exercise.

Wuhan market samples contained COVID and animal mixtures, report says

Frederic Bushman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the report finding COVID-infected raccoon dogs in China had sound methods but isn’t absolute proof that the animals were the source of the pandemic.

The little-known world of caterpillars

Dan Janzen of the School of Arts & Sciences explains how the climate crisis has led to catastrophic declines in insect numbers.

The next stage of COVID is starting now

Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine says that children’s responses and vulnerability to future bouts of coronavirus may depend on the variants they encounter.

Person poses by the Biopond on Penn's campus

Who, What, Why: Tess Kuracina tends to the ‘BioPond,’ a beloved campus oasis

As garden supervisor for the treasured green space formally known as the James G. Kaskey Memorial Park, Kuracina plans, plants, waters, and weeds, aiming to make it ‘more beautiful and special every year.’

Don’t feel like exercising? It could be your microbiome

A study by Christoph Thaiss of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues found that gut microbiomes encouraged animals to exercise.

Two people from the Hadza group pose and smile outdoors

Genomics reveals a complex human history in Africa

An international team of researchers led by Penn geneticists sequenced the genomes of 180 Indigenous Africans. The results shed light on the origin of modern humans, African population history, and local adaptation.

Vaccine makers are preparing for bird flu

Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues are developing and testing a vaccine tailored to the current bird flu strain based on their previous 20-subtype mRNA flu vaccine.

microscopic image with blue, red, and green fluorescent labeling indicates cells that are developing to resemble germ cells

Rewiring blood cells to give rise to precursors of sperm

School of Veterinary Medicine researchers teamed with scientists at the University of Texas at San Antonio to transform blood cells to regain a flexible fate, growing into a precursor of sperm cells.

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