Jennifer Zieba

Jennifer Zieba

Live Science Contributor

Jennifer Zieba earned her PhD in human genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is currently a project scientist in the orthopedic surgery department at UCLA where she works on identifying mutations and possible treatments for rare genetic musculoskeletal disorders. Jen enjoys teaching and communicating complex scientific concepts to a wide audience and is a freelance writer for multiple online publications.

Articles by: Jennifer Zieba

An artist's 3D rendering of a brain in the outline of a face and skull. There are two glowing dots near the center of the brain.

'This is largely uncharted territory': Scientists reveal the brain's 'fear circuit' works differently than we thought

By Jennifer Zieba published

New methods applied in live mice suggest that molecules called neuropeptides, not neurotransmitters, play the main role in our response to danger.

Underwater photo of a child swimming in a freshwater pond; only the child's body is visible, as his head is out of the water

'Brain-eating' infections could become more common, scientists warn

By Jennifer Zieba published

Researchers think climate change will soon cause an increase in the incidence of Naegleria fowleri infections, a "brain-eating" disease.

Glioblastoma brain cancer. Coloured computed tomography (CT) scan of a section through the brain (side-view) of an 84-year-old female patient with glioblastoma (dark, top).

New mRNA vaccine for deadly brain cancer triggers a strong immune response

By Jennifer Zieba published

COVID-19 vaccine development paves way to a new class of cancer immunotherapy.

illustration of a dna molecule with different nucleotides highlighted

PTSD tied to 95 'risk hotspots' in the genome

By Jennifer Zieba published

In a group effort, scientists from all over the world came together to create a detailed map of the genetic causes behind PTSD.

older man with greyin beard wears a swim cap and smiles as he's swimming at a public pool

Exercise may reverse sign of aging by 'flushing' fat from muscle

By Jennifer Zieba published

Researchers say they've identified a kind of fat that plays a major role in aging and can be controlled with short-term exercise.

a man with tan skin and black hair wearing an EEG cap with colorful electrodes on it as he plays a guitar. A researcher stands in the background at a computer, watching brain waves on the screen

'Flow state' uncovered: We finally know what happens in the brain when you're 'in the zone'

By Jennifer Zieba published

Researchers say they've found the answer to competing hypotheses about how the brain functions in a "flow state."

3d illustration of the coccyx, or tailbone, in a human pelvis

We finally know why humans don't have tails

By Jennifer Zieba published

Researchers discover a potential genetic connection between humans' tail loss and a type of birth defect.

photo of towering stone features in peru called the Huayllay Stone Forest against a clear blue sky

Gene mutation helps Andean highlanders thrive at altitude, and 'living fossil' fish live deep underwater

By Jennifer Zieba published

Researchers discovered an example of convergent evolution in the Peruvian and Tibetan highlander communities.

A colorful 3D illustration of two virus-like particles, depicted in green, light blue and dark blue

Cancer sometimes triggers sudden memory loss — now we might know why

By Jennifer Zieba published

A virus-like protein made by some tumors may be the culprit behind an enigmatic neurological syndrome in cancer patients.

an illustration of multicolored virus particles shaped like the Zika virus with green, orange and purple proteins tessellated on their surfaces

Zika virus could potentially treat cancer, another early study hints

By Jennifer Zieba published

The Zika virus can target and eradicate human neuroblastoma tumors in a mouse model, a study shows. But how soon could such a treatment be used in people?

close-up of a gloved hand using tweezers to pull genetic material from a suspended DNA molecule

Could CRISPR cure HIV someday?

By Jennifer Zieba published

An early-stage clinical trial raises hope for a new, single-dose HIV therapy that uses CRISPR, the famous gene-editing system.