Biology is fundamental to our changing world. The 21st century challenge for our students, our scholars, and the greater society is to understand our place in this changing world and to create fundamental knowledge for informed policies, economies, and social structure.
Upcoming Events
Cross-kingdom RNAi and extracellular vesicle-mediated small RNA trafficking between plants and fungal pathogens with Hailing Jin
Small RNAs (sRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that mediate gene silencing in many cellular processes. We discovered that some sRNAs from eukaryotic pathogens, such as Botrytis cinerea, can move into host…
The neural control of adaptive behavior
Survival requires responding to constantly changing conditions. Over time, evolution has selected for neural circuits that ensure robust and adaptive responses to survival needs. My lab is focused on uncovering the…
Intra-genomic conflict and the preservation of genome integrity with Mia Levine
Selfish DNA elements infest eukaryotic genomes. These “genome parasites” act akin to viruses, hijacking our cell’s machinery to increase their copy number in the host genome. Such selfish element proliferation can…
News
Dr. Larry Rome on Innovation Nation
May. 26, 2021
Read More
Dr. Yun Ding named 2021 Searle Scholar
May. 20, 2021
Read More
Congratulations Class of 2021!
May. 17, 2021
Read More
SAS Presents Dynamite!
Dec. 10, 2020
Read More
August Annoucements
Aug. 31, 2020
Read More
High-ranking hyena mothers pass their social networks to their cubs
Using 27 years of detailed data on hyena social interactions, a team led by Penn biologists nailed down a pattern of social network inheritance and its implications for social structure, rank, and survival.
How is a cicada like an oak tree?
Janzen, the DiMaura Professor in Biology, on why cicadas (and wildebeests, salmon, and oak trees) act the way they do.
Obscuring the truth can promote cooperation
People are more likely to cooperate if they think others are cooperating, too. New research by biologists in the School of Arts & Sciences shows that overstating the true level of cooperation in a society can increase cooperative behavior overall.
Designing public institutions that foster cooperation
People are more likely to cooperate with those they see as ‘good.’ Using a mathematical model, School of Arts & Sciences researchers found it’s possible to design systems that assess and broadcast participants’ reputations, leading to high levels of cooperation and adherence.
The use and misuse of race in health care
In a Q&A, PIK Professor Sarah Tishkoff, the Perelman School of Medicine’s Giorgio Sirugo, and Case Western Reserve University’s Scott Williams shed light on the ‘quagmire’ of race, ethnicity, genetic ancestry, and environmental factors and their contribution to health disparities.
Due the COVID-19 epidemic, the University of Pennsylvania has limited on-campus activities. As such, our team will be working remotely until further notice. If you need assistance, please send an email to biology@sas.upenn.edu, and we will happily assist you in a virtual format. For immediate service during normal working hours (M-F, 9am to 5pm) our phones are operational.
Stay safe and take care.