From genes to behavior: How genes tell our stories

Genome sequencing technologies are advancing at a faster pace. Since the Human Genome Project, researchers have developed sophisticated tools to analyze vast sequencing data rapidly. Researchers in industry and academia are pooling large numbers of samples to conduct large-scale studies. Within just a week, you can learn about your ancestry or even your pet’s pedigree. All you need to provide is a small amount of blood or saliva for the sequencing. Take part in citizen science, own your genome, and make informed health decisions.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic brought zoonoses into the spotlight, shared disease between humans and animals is as ancient as our interactions. But this partnership isn’t all bad: in co-evolution, shared disease can also lead to shared remedies.
Come on a journey through time to discover fascinating stories of humans, cattle, shared sickness, and shared survival. We’ll chase a 10,000-year-old mystery across the globe, learn how cutting-edge science reconciled conflicting evidence and unraveled the origin of an ancient zoonosis, and discover why we have the cow or “vacca” to thank for vaccines.

Cooperation is omnipresent in life, from intra-species (e.g., monkey grooming) to inter-species cooperation (e.g., gas exchange between bacteria and plant roots). While cooperation seems advantageous for all the partners, anyone who has experienced teamwork knows that some people can produce less effort and take advantage of the cooperation for their own profit. The evolution of cooperation is subject to the same constraints. Using game theory and social observations in bats, I will explain how cooperation evolved and is maintained despite these selfish behaviors.