Dr. Saguy, a sociologist at U.C.L.A., methodically teases out all the overtones of the loaded words we use to describe big bodies in her book, “What’s Wrong with Fat”. These bodies are, after all, neither good nor bad, just big. But “fat” often implies the coexistence of sloth, gluttony and self-indulgence. “Obesity” equals disease to medical professionals, while in the…
ISG is proud to announce that one of our Human, Biology & Society major students, Alexa Golden(’13), has been awarded the Distinguished Senior Award by the UCLA Alumni Association. These awards recognize leadership, involvement and service to the UCLA community as well as academic excellence.
Through the hard work of UCLA Profs. Dan Blumstein (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology) and Barbara Natterson-Horowitz (Cardiology), a growing Program in Evolutionary Medicine has been established. This exciting enterprise brings together faculty and students from across campus to collaborate and educate in the burgeoning field of evolutionary approaches to health and disease. Evolutionary medicine is an emerging field that combines…
Studies by the geneticist and social scientist James Fowler suggest that serotonin, the neurotransmitter connected to mood disorders and depression, is strongly implicated in voting behavior. Article covered in NYTimes Opinion by Victoria Bassetti.
As the price of sequencing an individual’s genome becomes as cheap as $1000, scientists and bioethicists discuss the risks and benefits of large populations of the public having their genome sequenced. Their concern addresses questions of accuracy and the risk of false positives as well as the potential of genetic discrimination for things like life and disability insurance. NPR covers…
Okaganan Specialty Fruits Inc. has just has developed two genetically engineered varieties of green apples that will not turn brown after being sliced. These apples are poised to become the first to gain the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s approval leaving many to wonder – would an apple that doesn’t turn brown prevent us from telling whether it’s rotten? NPR covers…