Research Unplugged
The promise of genetics: Feeding the world and living forever?
A conversation with Ken Weiss
"We want to live forever," said Weiss.Photo by Emily Rowlands
November 3, 2004
Ken Weiss, Evan Pugh Professor of Anthropology and Genetics, has held positions at the University of Texas, Stanford University, the University of Pittsburgh and Yale University. He is interested in the genetic basis of morphological traits and how these relate to and are guided by evolution. His work largely involves studies of human polymorphisms and the amount of variation in genes related to human phenotypes, including disease-related traits. Weiss has worked on the problem of diabetes susceptibility and the effect of genetic variation of cardiovascular disease. He is active in organizing efforts to sample the human genome worldwide, to answer anthropological and biomedical questions.
Weiss teaches several courses at Penn State:
- ANTH/BIOL 460 Human Genetics
- ANTH/BIOL 460H Honors Human Genetics
- ANTH 465H 15 Great Papers in Biological Anthropology
- ANTH 470H Our Place in Nature
- ANTH 563 Biological Journal Club
- IBIOS 598B Genomics
Ken Weiss, Ph.D., is Evan Pugh professor of anthropology and genetics, 523 Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802; 814-865-0989; kenweiss@psu.edu. Mauer Biscotti is an undergraduate biochemistry and molecular biology major at Penn State, mzb125@psu.edu.