Center For Reproductive Biology And Health News | Center for Reproductive Biology and Health

White-throated sparrows are among the best-studied North American songbirds. With a typical wingspan of 6 to 7 inches, it breeds primarily in northern boreal coniferous and mixed forests and, a short-distance migrant, winters mainly in the southeastern U.S. To make these migrations, the bird's body changes significantly. IMAGE: PAUL BARTELL / PENN STATE

Apr 25, 2019

Songbird-body changes that allow migration may have human health implications

Songbirds that pack on as much as 50 percent of their body weight before migrating and that sleep very little, exhibit altered immune system and tissue-repair function during the journey, which may hold implications for human health, according to Penn State researchers.

Full Article

Feb 15, 2019

Troy Ott to discuss "the improbable series of events that led to your birth"

At this month’s "Science on Tap" event, Huck Associate Director and professor of reproductive biology Troy Ott will discuss viviparity — the development of an embryo inside the body leading to the birth of a live offspring. Viviparity is thought to have evolved from egg-laying animals. Ott's talk will focus on one of the enigmas of live birth that relates to the mother’s immune system.

Full Article

May 28, 2014

Zinc deficiency before conception disrupts fetal development

Female mice deprived of dietary zinc for a relatively short time before conception experienced fertility and pregnancy problems and had smaller, less-developed fetuses than mice that ingested zinc during the same times, according to Penn State researchers including Francisco Diaz and Thomas Neuberger.

Full Article

Apr 29, 2014

Key factor in neonatal zinc deficiency may impact lactation and breast cancer

Huck Institutes affiliate Shannon Kelleher and Penn State graduate student Steve Hennigar advance scientists' understanding of zinc's role in breast development, lactation, and involution.

Full Article

Apr 16, 2014

Kamat Places Third in 29th Annual University-wide Graduate Exhibition

Kamat, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Animal Science, is a member of the graduate program in immunology and infectious disease.

Full Article

Dec 19, 2013

DNA study gives insight into the evolution of food crops, other flowering plants

New light has been shed on a major event in the history of life on Earth the origin of all major food crops and all other flowering plants with the publication of the newly sequenced genome of the Amborella plant by researchers including Huck Institutes faculty members Claude dePamphilis, Hong Ma, Stephan Schuster, Naomi Altman, and Michael Axtell, and graduate student Saima Shahid.

Full Article

Aug 08, 2013

USDA announces EPA registration of gonacon immunocontraceptive vaccine for white-tailed deer

Collaborative study with the National Wildlife Research Center to address deer overpopulation in many areas across the United States. This research focuses on developing safe and effective ways for the long-term contraception of deer.

Full Article

Jul 29, 2013

Huck Institutes seek new Associate Directors for positions in science leadership

The Huck Institutes wish to appoint a series of new Associate Directors to work with the management team and help in developing new initiatives.

Full Article

Oct 15, 2012

Textbook for Domestic Animal Reproductive Genomics

Center member Troy Ott co-edited "Reproductive Genomics in Domestic Animals," a thorough examination of genomics in the livestock industry, encompassing genome sciences, genome biotechnology, and reproduction.

Full Article

Aug 03, 2010

Ancient gene family linked to the future of epileptic seizures

A potassium-channel gene belonging to an ancient gene family more than 542 million years old is opening new avenues in epilepsy research, and may one day allow researchers to develop more effective drugs with fewer side effects for the treatment of epileptic seizures.

Full Article