Laura Blanton

Oct 9, 2024 | biorxiv.org | Rebecca Harris |Troy W Whitfield |Laura Blanton |Helen Skaletsky

AbstractThe origins of sex differences in human disease are elusive, in part because of difficulties in separating the effects of sex hormones and sex chromosomes. To separate these variables, we examined gene expression in four groups of trans- or cisgender individuals: XX individuals treated with exogenous testosterone (n=21), XY treated with exogenous estradiol (n=13), untreated XX (n=20), and untreated XY (n=15).

Jul 14, 2023 | smithsonianmag.com | Laura Blanton

If given the chance, would you go to Mars? Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to visit seven different District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) classrooms to pose this question to almost 300 5th graders. As expected, the range of responses varies from a hard “no” to “why not?” This question launches into a five-week discovery into different challenges in space exploration and skills that support these efforts. What Does It Take to Go On A Mission To Mars?