Biology | Penn Today

Stat

Scientists confront a mystery: Why have U.S. bird flu cases been so mild?

Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine says that one or two mutations can greatly change the pathogenicity profile of current bird flu viruses.

The Scientist

A beneficial bacterium helps wounds heal

Research by Ellen White of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues in Elizabeth Grice’s lab suggests that a bacterium found in chronic wounds can aid healing.

Collaborating on agricultural climate solutions, from plants to animals

The new Penn Plant Adaptability and Resilience Center brought together faculty speakers from five schools for its Climate Solutions for the Living World symposium.

Aman Husbands inspects plants in his lab

From one gene switch, many possible outcomes

A team of researchers led by Aman Husbands of the School of Arts & Sciences has uncovered surprising ways transcription factors—the genetic switches for genes—regulate plant development, revealing how subtle changes in a lipid-binding region can dramatically alter gene regulation.

Developing kidneys from scratch

Bioengineering professor Alex Hughes tackles the burden of chronic kidney disease by creating kidney tissue from scratch, which could reduce the need for both dialysis and transplantation.

Person scratching an itch on their right arm.

Scratching beneath the surface of itchy skin

Researchers from Penn Vet provide insights into how a species of worms found a way around the mammalian urge to scratch an itch.

Aerial view of people connected by lines.

A method of ‘look twice, forgive once’ can sustain social cooperation

Using mathematical modeling, researchers from Penn and Princeton found a way to maintain cooperation without relying on complex norms or institutions.

Three women sit at tables in front of an audience. A Zoom screen with three additional speakers is behind them.

How is the world working to save biodiversity?

A Sept. 18 panel hosted by the Environmental Innovations Initiative and the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies discussed local and global initiatives.

Nature

Is bird flu spreading among people? Data gaps leave researchers in the dark

Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine says that there are fears of bird flu spreading at low levels through humans in a Missouri community.