SoS 247: Intergenerational Signals w/ Dr. Haley Ragsdale: A DOHaD Lens on Human Reproduction

Chris and Courtney sit down with Dr. Haley Ragsdale to discuss intergenerational signals of matrilineal experience. Haley completed her dissertation in Anthropology at Northwestern University in 2023 under the guidance of Dr. Chris Kuzawa. She is now a postdoctoral researcher in the Anthropology Department at the University of Illinois Chicago, collaborating with Dr. Katie Starkweather on fascinating projects related to maternal and child health among the Shodagor of Bangladesh. Haley’s work is deeply rooted in evolutionary theory and the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) framework, with a focus on human reproductive biology. She explores how energetic experiences shape lifetime metabolic strategies and how reproductive investments are influenced by varying environmental contexts. Currently, she’s diving into the mechanisms behind intergenerational signals of matrilineal experience and predictive adaptive responses in humans. ------------------------------ Find the paper discussed in this episode: Ragsdale, H. B., Lee, N. R., & Kuzawa, C. W. (2024). Evidence that highly canalized fetal traits are sensitive to intergenerational effects of maternal developmental nutrition. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 183(4), e24883. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24883 ------------------------------ Contact Haley: E-mail: hragsd2@uic.edu website: https://haleyragsdale.squarespace.com/; Google Scholar ------------------------------ Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and Human Biology Association: Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc Chris Lynn, Host Website: cdlynn.people.ua.edu/, E-mail: cdlynn@ua.edu, Twitter:@Chris_Ly Courtney Manthey, Guest-Co-Host, Website: holylaetoli.com/ E-mail: cpierce4@uccs.edu, Twitter: @HolyLaetoli Cristina Gildee, SoS Co-Producer, HBA Junior Fellow Website: cristinagildee.org, E-mail: cgildee@uw.edu,