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More than skin deep: A molecular and mechanistic look at pigmentation variation
Two men sitting and smiling for a photgraph

PIK Professor Sarah Tishkoff led a collaborative team of researchers who have discovered key insights into the molecular basis of skin color differences among Africans. “There’s so much genetic diversity in African populations, but they’ve also been historically underrepresented in studies,” Tishkoff says. “Our findings offer more information on these populations and paint a clearer picture of human evolution.”

(Image: Courtesy of Sarah Tishkoff and Alessia Ranciaro)

More than skin deep: A molecular and mechanistic look at pigmentation variation

A new collaborative study offers a better understanding of genes and variants responsible for skin color, providing insights into human evolution and local adaptation.
Research shows how stress activates neurons that disrupt sleep
Person awake in bed with alarm clock reading 4 a.m.

Image: iStock/Prostock-Studio

Research shows how stress activates neurons that disrupt sleep

New research from Penn Medicine shows suppressing these neurons may be a promising target for therapies to treat stress-related sleep disorders, like insomnia and PTSD.

From Penn Medicine News

Long COVID brain fog may originate in a surprising place, say scientists
NPR

Long COVID brain fog may originate in a surprising place, say scientists

A study by Christoph Thaiss and Maayan Levy of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues finds that long COVID’s neurological symptoms, like brain fog, memory loss, and fatigue, may stem from serotonin reduction.

Long COVID research is in its ‘most hopeful’ phase yet
Time

Long COVID research is in its ‘most hopeful’ phase yet

A study by Christoph Thaiss and Maayan Levy of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues suggests that serotonin could be a target for long COVID treatment.

A crucial pattern behind long COVID may have been identified
ScienceAlert

A crucial pattern behind long COVID may have been identified

A study by Christoph Thaiss and Maayan Levy of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues suggests that several current hypotheses for the pathophysiology of long COVID are linked by a single pathway that is connected by serotonin reduction.

Study of serotonin levels offers hope for long COVID treatment
WebMD

Study of serotonin levels offers hope for long COVID treatment

A study by Christoph Thaiss and Maayan Levy of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues finds that long COVID is associated with lower levels of circulating serotonin, which could be relevant for its neurological, cognitive, and memory symptoms.

New research links symptoms of long COVID to serotonin levels—and more
WGN-TV

New research links symptoms of long COVID to serotonin levels—and more

A study by Christoph Thaiss and Maayan Levy of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues shows that long COVID can deplete peripheral serotonin levels, offering a baseline for treatment with serotonin supplementation.

Conflicts and cultural evolution: All for one and one for all?
A crowd of people viewed from above.

Image: iStock/cosmin4000

Conflicts and cultural evolution: All for one and one for all?

Researchers from the School of Arts & Sciences show that, when it comes to learning and honing different skills, what’s better for the individual isn’t always better for the group.

Liana F. Wait