Keyword: Department of Biology

PIM kinases are enzymes that are evolutionarily well conserved in both humans and nematodes. Led by Dr Päivi Koskinen, a research group from the Department of Biology of the University of Turku has previously proven that PIM kinases promote the motility and survival of cancer cells, but now the group has shown that these enzymes also regulate the sense of smell.

Researchers at the University of Turku found that the presence of a maternal sister was positively and significantly associated with annual female reproduction in a population of working elephants in Myanmar. In addition, an age-specific effect was found: young females were more sensitive to the presence of sisters and even more likely to reproduce when living near a sister.

Researchers at the Universities of Turku and Helsinki found that women were more likely to volunteer for all-female paramilitary organizations if they had brothers or husbands who were currently serving in the military.  This result suggests that bonding with larger and frequently imagined communities, such as the nation state or religious groups, can arise from psychology mechanisms designed by evolution to increase cooperation among close relatives.

A new study conducted at the University of Turku shows that grandmother involvement with their grandchildren improves the survival of the grandchildren. Based on historical Finnish church records, the study however finds the ability to provide help to young grandchildren declines with grandmother age and deteriorated health.

Nature is becoming less diverse all across the globe, which is also threatening the future of humankind. Researchers emphasise the fact that there is still hope, but now is the time to act.

​Professors Kari Saikkonen and Ilari E. Sääksjärvi emphasise the need for protecting natural forests that are home to diverse species. In Finland, forests cover over 70% of the country’s surface area, but especially in the south most of it is commercial forest.

The University of Turku's Amazon Research Team's (UTU-ART) botanical acquisitions focus especially on ferns and medinilla plants. After spending weeks in the jungle, the researchers’ plant specimen findings end up in the University's Herbarium and databases. The Amazonia is home to innumerable unknown species and therefore it is important to develop the databases.

​A specimen belonging to the Amazon Research Team's collections