Evolutionary biologist Nancy Moran, professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, was featured in a detailed Q&A in Quanta Magazine. She explains her research on the relationships between bees and the bacteria that live inside of them.
The field of symbiosis, the close relationships between two species, was an understudied topic when Moran first started researching, but has evolved into a hot topic as scientists have gained a greater understanding of how gut bacteria affect human health. In her Q&A, Moran delves into how her use of new technology has made her research feasible and the complexities involved in symbiosis.
Moran discusses how bacteria has a huge impact on the health of bees. She is studying how a bee's microbiome affects how it contracts viruses. She talks about theories she has about the source of colony collapse disorder – the sudden death of entire hives.
Read the piece in Quanta Magazine.
Hear Moran discuss her work in our Point of Discovery podcast.
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