In a new paper, a team of evolutionary biologists and geneticists led by senior author associate professor Ana Caicedo, with first author Hamid Razifard at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and others, report that they have identified missing links in the tomato’s evolution from a wild blueberry-sized fruit in South America to the larger modern tomato of today. Details appear in an Advanced Access edition of Molecular Biology and Evolution. Read more

Studies have shown that perinatal exposure of rats and mice to common flame retardants found in household items permanently reprograms liver metabolism, often leading later in life to insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Now, research led by University of Massachusetts Amherst environmental toxicologist Alexander Suvorov, with co-authors in Moscow, Russia, has identified the likely mechanism responsible for the pollutant’s effect: an altered liver epigenome. The epigenome refers to heritable changes in gene expression without changes in the DNA sequence. “Changes in the liver epigenome can explain those functional changes in the liver,” Suvorov explains. “We looked at two different epigenetic mechanisms and there were changes in both.” These findings were published Dec. 13 in the medical journal Epigenomics. Read more

Shelly Peyton, associate professor of chemical engineering, has been elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). The college is made up of 2,000 members, the top 2% of the medical and biological engineering community, who are outstanding bioengineers in academia, industry, clinical practice and government.

AIMBE is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization that represents the most accomplished individuals in the fields of medical and biological engineering. “As chair of AIMBE’s College of Fellows, I oversee the nomination, review and election process,” says Paul Citron. “I can say without any hesitation the Class of 2020 is truly remarkable. This year AIMBE received the largest number of nominations - all of which were qualified candidates.”

Peyton is the head of the Peyton Research Group. She says, “We are several women and men, engineers, and biologists, and our mission is to learn how cells process information from their chemical and physical tissue environment.” Read more

Alicia Timme-Laragy, associate professor of environmental health sciences, a developmental toxicologist with expertise in how early life exposures to pollutants affect health, recently hosted a workshop for elected officials and candidates on the health risks associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals. “PFAS 101: Current Research and Health Risks” brought staff representing a number of state representatives and senators, Westfield city councilors, and staffers from Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey's office to campus to introduce legislators to the current state of research and raise awareness of the health risks associated with PFAS chemicals. Read more