by: Sarah Rockwood Parents provide much more than food on the table, a roof to live under, and the occasional time-out. They contribute the genetic framework and environmental upbringing that shapes each one of us–the combination of nature and nurture that shapes us into unique individuals. These intergenerational effects determine a myriad of phenotypes, from […]
Why Costa Ricans Outlive Americans
by: Sandeep Kaur Why do some populations live longer than others? Many factors unquestionably influence the health indicators of a population. Researchers are attempting to understand why Costa Rica outperforms the United States in life expectancy, despite the United States having higher income and health care expenditures. For example, “mortality in the United States is […]
What Inuit genes may reveal about the secret to personalized diets
by: Mackenzie Moore For decades, health experts have touted the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids based on the paleo diet of Inuit tribes studied in the 1970s. Scientists correlated the decreased number of heart attacks in Arctic populations with the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids consumed through fatty fish and meats, but a closer […]
After the Smoke Has Cleared: A First Look at the Effects of Thirdhand Smoke
by: Linda Tunesi In 1964, the Surgeon General published the first report on the health hazards of tobacco smoking. It is now common knowledge that first and secondhand smoke can cause all sorts of health issues, from bronchitis to sudden infant death syndrome to cardiovascular disease. Over fifty years after the first report, researchers are […]
Does this birth control make me look fat: The effects of progesterone-only contraception on metabolism
by: Stephanie Gates Weight gain has been a self-diagnosed side effect of many methods of birth control for years. While this has not been proven, scientists have found many associations between progesterone, an endogenous hormone commonly used in female contraception, and resting metabolic rate. This association might, in turn, lead to an increase in appetite […]