Life Lines by Dr. Dolittle

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No air? No problem: Nature’s ultimate survivalists

Hypoxia and anoxia tolerance was a hot topic at the 2025 American Physiology Summit last month. Here are the highlights: Hafsa Yaseen and Natalie Anne Heath presented their research from Dr. Joseph Santin’s laboratory at the University of Missouri exploring how adult bullfrogs (Aquarana catesbeianus) protect their brain function following hibernation, a period when oxygen and glucose levels are often very low. The team discovered that bullfrogs could adjust their […]

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2025 August Krogh Distinguished Lecturer, Dr. Michael Hedrick

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Michael Hedrick (Emeritus Professor, California State University – East Bay) received the 2025 August Krogh Distinguished Lectureship award at the 2025 American Physiology Summit! He shared his body of research on how frogs and toads (anurans) regulate their lymphatic system in a lecture entitled, “What Goes Down Must Come Up: Regulation of Lymph Movement in Anuran Amphibians.” Dr. Hedrick earned his Ph.D. in […]

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Weddell seals dampen inflammatory response to combat dive induced hypoxemia injury

We are very excited to share this winning guest blog post from Amy Klink, doctoral student at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. Amy received the Dr. Dolittle travel award to present this research at the 2025 American Physiology Summit in Baltimore. Congratulations Amy! As a kid growing up in Lake County, Illinois, I spent more than half of my summer in some lake or body of water competing […]

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Even small birds fly high

Dr. Catherine Ivy (Assistant Professor, University of Saskatchewan, Canada), shared research this morning at the 2025 APS Summit on the remarkable hypoxia tolerance of birds. Although bar-headed geese (above) are the poster-birds for research on extreme hypoxia tolerance, I was surprised to learn that even many small migratory species of birds fly at relatively high altitude. Tiny migratory yellow-rumped warblers (~12g), for example, travel for about 6-8 hours at a […]

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Physiology on the road: Celebrating physiology in Indiana

I am excited to announce that the Indiana Physiological Society, a chapter of the American Physiological Society, is hosting their annual meeting tomorrow! The event will take place at the University of Southern Indiana. The keynote address will be given by Dr. Thad Wilson, renowned professor of physiology and educator at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. The conference also includes hands-on activities to improve teaching in physiology. It […]

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Understanding Giant Pandas’ Unique Bamboo Diet

Happy National Panda Day!! Today, we celebrate one of the most beloved animals around the world. Giant pandas, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, are native to China and are the only living member of the genus, Ailuropoda. Pandas are members of the carnivorous Ursidae bear family. However, they have evolved to eat a diet consisting of close to 99% bamboo. Their jaws, teeth, digestive system and even their paws with a “false thumb” […]

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Buzz-off! Nature’s hornet, wasp, bee and predator control

On this “Buzzards Day”, we celebrate the return of buzzards from winter migration and, although not native to the United States, we celebrate pest controlling honey buzzards as well. Turkey vultures, aka turkey buzzards, have a strange self-defense strategy. To ward off predators, they are capable of projectile vomiting their last meal up to 10 feet…gross…but effective. Do not startle these birds on their return flight from migration!! Check out […]

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New study explores whether diet and blood sugar affect cancer risk

A new study published by researchers at Arizona State University, led by Dr. Carlo Maley, in Nature Communications set out to examine whether vertebrates that have high blood sugar are at greater risk of developing cancer. The current study follows on the heels of prior work by his team that was published in Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health last summer showing that cancer prevalence is lower in birds than other […]

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