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Tracking Traits

Tracking Traits

Written by: Penn State's Center for Human Evolution and Diversity
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Penn State undergrads interview research scientists forging new pathways to understanding human evolution. A production of Penn State's Center for Human Evolution and Diversity.© 2025 Tracking Traits Biological Sciences Education Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • An Ecological Approach to Emerging Diseases
    Aug 9 2024

    Penn State’s Forensics alumna Sam Muller interviews anthropologist Sagan Friant about her research on human-environment interactions and their impacts on human health, particularly in Nigeria. Much of Friant's work centers on the emergence of new zoonotic diseases, which originate in animals and can be transmitted to humans.

    Sam Muller
    Penn State Forensics alumna, Class of 2022

    Sagan Friant
    Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Penn State

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    47 mins
  • Ancient Microbiomes and Modern Medicine
    Apr 27 2024

    Penn State undergrad Thomas Sontag interviews associate professor of anthropology Laura Weyrich about her research on the history of our microbiomes and explains why it holds relevance to contemporary medicine.

    Thomas Sontag
    Undergraduate student at Penn State double majoring in Microbiology and German

    Laura Weyrich
    Associate Professor of Anthropology at Penn State

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    29 mins
  • The Evolution of Infectious Diseases
    Apr 8 2024

    Penn State undergrad Emma Sieminski interviews Biology and Entomology professor, former Director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, and current Senior VP of Research, Andrew Read about his research on the ecology and evolution of infectious disease.

    Emma Sieminski
    Undergraduate student at Penn State majoring in Forensic Science

    Andrew Read
    Evan Pugh Professor of Biology and Entomology, Senior Vice President of Research at Penn State

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    27 mins
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