Ann Tate
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A Conservative Defense: Downstream NFLs Resist Evolutionary Blitzes
By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator In football, defense keeps the opposing team in check. A similar strategy is at play inside our cells. Negative feedback loops (NFLs) help regulate how cells respond to signals, for example, dialing down activity when things get too intense. A new study from… Read MoreMay 9, 2025
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Vanderbilt Researchers Find Warming Quickens Aging-Related Mortality in Mosquitoes
By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Barr (left) and Hillyer in the lab. Submitted photo Mosquitoes tread a thinning line in warming climates, where aging accelerates and infections intensify. New research shows that warming and aging act as a one-two punch, lowering mosquito lifespans and fanning the flames of… Read MoreSeptember 19, 2024
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Analyzing Evolutionary Trade-Offs in Immune Systems: Computational Biology with Reese Martin
By Nick McCoy, Evolutionary Studies undergraduate communications assistant Reese Martin has always been drawn to biology and exploring the behaviors of different organisms. During his childhood, he dug in anthills, and now he observes the life history traits of flower beetles and other taxa. Martin’s new… Read MoreJuly 22, 2024
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Vanderbilt Researchers find Evidence for Evolutionary Constraints on Immunity
By Dr. Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Alissa Williams A new study led by members of Ann Tate’s (Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences) lab found evidence that pleiotropy may slow down evolution of genes involved in immunity. Alissa Williams, postdoctoral researcher, and Thi Ngo, lab alumna, equally contributed… Read MoreMarch 18, 2023
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Vanderbilt Team finds Evolutionary Support for Induced Defenses
By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Graduate student Reese Martin and his doctoral advisor, Ann Tate, assistant professor of biological sciences, used theoretical modeling to identify a potential relationship between genetic pleiotropy and the evolution of immune responses. The pair authored a paper titled, “Pleiotropy promotes… Read MoreMarch 16, 2023
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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 MoreApril 8, 2022