Tags: genetics

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Franklin genetics major named UGA's 10th Marshall Scholar

Finn Walsh will build on her studies in infectious disease post graduation as UGA’s newest Marshall Scholar. The senior from Atlanta will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in genetics and a minor in Spanish through the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. She has conducted undergraduate research through the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities, with the majority of her work in the Odum School of Ecology. Up to 50 students are…
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Genetics professor puts UGA on the corn map

A career of investigation and groundbreaking discovery in maize genetics has helped Kelly Dawe, Distinguished Research Professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, reshape how researchers understand—and improve—a vital crop. Through the rich genetic diversity of corn, Dawe has unlocked pathways to long-sought breakthroughs with cross-scale impacts in genetics, cell biology and genome evolution. Our colleagues in Research…
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Even common plants threatened by climate change, new study shows

New research from a team led by University of Georgia scientists from the Franklin College and the Odum School of Ecology reveals that even common plant species with a broad geographic distribution are at risk of decline based on climate change, potentially contributing to a loss in biodiversity.  Published in Science , the study integrates ecological and evolutionary approaches to model past, present and projected climatic tolerances…
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Four Franklin College faculty members named AAAS Fellows

In honor of their extraordinary achievements leading to scientific advancement, Five University of Georgia faculty – four from the Franklin College – have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, bringing the university’s total membership in the exclusive group to 50. Franklin's new Fellows are Thomas Mote, Robert Schmitz, Michael Terns and Zheng-Hua Ye. Melissa Mitchum of the College of Agricultural and…
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Janet Westpheling, 1951-2025

Longtime professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ genetics department, Janet (Jan) Westpheling passed away Feb. 16 after an extended illness.  Westpheling's UGA legacy will be honored through a Foundation Fellowship fund: “Jan was a dear friend and an extraordinary member of the UGA faculty,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “She was a devoted mentor to many students, a responsible and dedicated University leader, and a…
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Fish oil supplements bring a variety of health benefits

A new UGA study suggests the far-reaching benefits omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may extend to lowering the risks of developing a variety of cancers: The study relied on data from a United Kingdom-based study of over 250,000 people who were followed for more than a decade. Of those participants, almost 30,000 developed some form of cancer during the study period. Some earlier research drew connections between levels of fatty acids and risk of…
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Fish oil may counteract genetic leaning toward high cholesterol

New research from the department of genetics attends to the complex relationship between diet, cholesterol, and disease. While fish oil has long been associated with heart health benefits for some people, the question of whether it's right for everyone with high LDL cholesterol continue to be a point of contention – and the focus of new findings: And a new study from the University of Georgia might encourage a new population to start looking…
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Getting to the roots of climate solutions

As responses to climate change move toward adaptive solutions, plant genetics research faculty at the University of Georgia are seeking plant-based solutions. Some of these colleagues – from across campus, within and beyond the Franklin College – conduct studies at the cellular level, while others investigate plants as whole organisms. Still others are exploring how epigenetics shape entire ecosystems. And while a number of UGA geneticists…
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