Evolution | Vanderbilt University

Four-panel figure comparing two study populations and their lifestyle “urbanicity.” (A) Map showing the geographic locations of Turkana communities in East Africa, illustrated with a dry landscape and traditional dwellings, and Orang Asli communities in Malaysia, illustrated with a thatched rural house surrounded by vegetation. (B) Urbanicity is defined as a lifestyle gradient based on population density, infrastructure such as electricity and sewage, household assets such as televisions and phones, participation in wage labor, and access to education; icons represent cities, money, education, and technology. (C) Bar charts show participant counts by age category and sex for the two populations. Both samples contain the most participants in younger age groups, with progressively fewer participants at older ages. (D) Histograms show the distributions of urbanicity scores for the two populations, with scores spanning approximately 2–41 and substantial variation within each population.

Vanderbilt Researchers Illuminate Role of Cholesterol-binding Protein Across Environments

By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies senior program manager In our modern, industrialized world, many of us are constantly seeking to lower our ‘bad’ cholesterol because this ‘bad cholesterol’ contributes to many of top causes of death worldwide, like heart disease and stroke. Understanding the genetic underpinnings of what drives cholesterol-related… Read More

September 23, 2026

The Lasting Effects of Adversity in Rhesus Macaques

By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Many factors influence growth and reproductive patterns in animals and people alike. New research, led by postdoctoral researcher Rachel Petersen of the Lea Lab at Vanderbilt and Assistant Professor Sam Patterson of Notre Dame University, shows that adversity experienced during development may… Read More

May 6, 2026

Partnership with Turkana Community Helps Scientists Discover Genes Involved in Adaptation to Desert Living

Originally posted by UC-Berkeley team, edits by Andy Flick Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Scientists Discover Key Genetic Adaptations in Partnership with Turkana Pastoralists of Northern Kenya Groundbreaking study reveals how thousands of years of natural selection shaped remarkable adaptations to an extreme environment. Through a collaboration… Read More

September 18, 2025

A group of people is seated on a brightly patterned mat inside a rustic room. A local man smiles and waves at the camera, while others, including two researchers using tablet devices, sit nearby. The background includes personal belongings and a small fan, giving the space a homely feel.

Beyond the Thrifty Genotype: Examining Evolutionary Hypotheses for Modern Metabolic Health

By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies Scientific Coordinator Arner, right, with local community members and researchers sharing knowledge in a relaxed setting, discussing findings and gathering insights on local lifestyle practices. A new review co-led by graduate students Layla Brassington and Audrey Arner of the Lea Lab discusses the formulation of… Read More

November 12, 2024

Vanderbilt Researcher Identifies Modes of Natural Selection in Understudied Human Populations

By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator (Spanish/español) Amanda Lea, assistant professor of biology, along with a global team of experts, have discovered new pathways of natural selection in humans. The group, led by Tsimane Health and Life History Project co-Director Michael Gurven of the University of… Read More

February 16, 2023

Hands clapping with the word congratulations at the top

Trainees of ESI receive high praise

By: Andy Flick Evolutionary Studies Initiative scientific coordinator We congratulate all trainees who applied for grants this cycle regardless of the result. Putting together major grants is hard work and a feat in and of itself. So, for those that didn’t get funded, keep your heads up, we still think… Read More

April 8, 2022