Latest Issue of Research Frontiers Examines Darwin's Legacy

Research Frontiers, Spring 2009 edition

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The spring issue of University of Arkansas Research Frontiers explores the legacy of Charles Darwin and examines current research in light of evolutionary theory through two feature stories.

In the first, William F. McComas, the Parks Family Professor in Science and Technology Education in the College of Education and Health Professions, discusses Darwin’s well-known voyage to the Galapagos and its significance in his subsequent writing of Origin of Species, which was written 150 years ago. As a science educator, McComas teaches students about the theory of natural selection and also has visited the Galapagos Islands on several occasions.

“If there’s any argument about evolution, it deals with the mechanism and the fine-tuning of the mechanism,” McComas says in the article. “One question was whether evolution by natural selection would hold up when the genetic mechanism was finally discovered. And the answer is, it holds up beautifully.”

The second article to focus on the legacy of Darwin looks at a sampling of current research on the University of Arkansas campus. Researchers studying everything from ways to detect the avian influenza virus to the origins of helping others look at evolution and natural selection pressures. Other research includes looking at how ants and plants co-evolve, evolution of new species of fruit flies, breeding of new traits in blackberries, evolution of primates and humans, and evolution of bacteria in streams and anaerobic organisms. The researchers work in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and the College of Engineering.

“This is merely a small sample of the rich body of research at the University of Arkansas that still resonates today from the influence of Darwin’s theory,” said Melissa Lutz Blouin, director of science and research communications and editor of Research Frontiers.

Other feature stories include an examination and explanation of the origins of the current financial crisis by faculty in the Sam. M. Walton College of Business and a feature on new tools in nanomedicine created by scientists in the College of Engineering.

The student feature showcases the work of Honors College student Rachel Lee, who along with others studies ways to use fat cells to fight cancer.

Book reviews include works from professors in English and history as well as the University of Arkansas Press.

The questions answered in the magazine’s UA Q&A section include “Why do people have different types of blood?” and “What do worms do?”

In addition to stories in the magazine, the Research Frontiers Web site has videos that showcase research in various forms. Architecture professor Laura Terry talks about the influence of her art on her architectural work and vice versa. McComas takes viewers on a virtual tour of the Galapagos Islands through the eyes of Darwin. And undergraduate Honors College student Jessica Minard talks about her experience in South Africa studying elephants and baobab trees.

Please visit http://researchfrontiers.uark.edu to see more.

###

Melissa Lutz Blouin, director of science and research communications
University Relations
479-575-5555, blouin@uark.edu