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School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences

Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics

E G&G

Introduction

Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics

Our research focuses on the ecological and evolutionary aspects of population divergence, speciation and hybridisation. We have a particular strength in genomics, with staff working on diverse non-model species encompassing trees, arthropods, fishes and mammals. Key research topics include genome duplication, the early evolution of sex chromosomes, eco-evolutionary dynamics, parallel evolution, and the genomics of domestication.

Dr Yannick Wurm's research has found that pesticides affect genes in bees.

Invertebrate Neurobiology and Development

Work within this area is also concerned with determining the genetic and cellular processes underpinning development, with a particular focus on non-model systems that include echinoderms, annelids and arthropods. We have particular interests in the evolutionary history of neuropeptide signalling systems, the molecular basis of neurogenesis, and spiral cleavage.

Staff

Researcher Title Department

Research Interests

Buggs, Prof Richard Professor of Evolutionary Genomics Biology

Tree, Genomics, Ash Dieback, Evolution, Ecology, Genetics

de Mendoza, Dr Alex Senior Lecturer In Bioinformatics (T&R) Biology

Evolution, Genetics, Epigenetics, Comparative Genomics, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics

Dos Reis Barros, Dr Mario

Lecturer Biology

Computational biology, Evolution, Molecular evolution, Phylogenetics, Population genetics

Eizaguirre, Prof Christophe

Professor of Evolutionary and Conservation Genetics, Head of Biology Department  Biology 

Aquatic ecology, Climate change, Conservation genetics, Evolutionary ecology, Fish, Marine turtles

Elphick, Prof Maurice

Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience

Biology

Physiology, Neuroscience, Evolution, Neuropeptide, Echinoderm, Cannabinoid

Frantz, Prof Laurent

Professor of Molecular Genetics/Informatics

Biology

Evolution, Genetics, Speciation, Domestication

Hurd, Dr Paul

Reader in Epigenetics

Biochemistry

Epigenetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, proteomics, development, genome plasticity, transcriptional regulation, nutrition-genome interactions, honey bees

Leitch, Prof Andrew

Professor of Plant Genetics, Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes

Biology

Polyploidy, Cytogenetics, Plant genomics, Stoichiogenomics, Nicotiana, Ecology, Evolution

Martin-Duran, Dr Chema Lecturer in Organismal Biology   Biology  Evolution, Developmental biology, Marine biology, Invertebrates 
Nichols, Prof Richard

Professor of Evolutionary Genetics 

Biology

Genetics, Evolution, Virology, Genomics

 
Rossiter, Prof Stephen

Professor of Molecular Ecology and Evolution

Biology

Evolution, Ecology, Genomics, Genetics, Mammals, Bats

Stollewerk, Dr Angelika Reader in Evolutionary Developmental Biology  Biology  Neurobiology, Evolution, Arthropods, Neurogenesis, Neural precursor identity 
Wurm, Dr Yannick

Professor of Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics 

Biology

Ants, Genomics, Evolution, Sociality, Behaviour

 

Publications

Elphick M, Mirabeau O, Larhammar D (2018). Evolution of neuropeptide signalling systems. The Journal of Experimental Biology

Wan T, Liu Z-M, Li L-F, Leitch A, Leitch I, Lohaus R, Liu Z-J, Xin H-P, Gong Y-B, Liu Y, et al (2018). A genome for gnetophytes and early evolution of seed plants. Nature Plants

Liu Y, Chi H, Li L, Rossiter S, Zhang S (2018). Molecular data support an early shift to an intermediate-light niche in the evolution of mammals. Molecular Biology and Evolution

Reis M, Gunnell G, Barba-Montoya J, Wilkins A, Yang Z, Yoder A (2018). Using phylogenomic data to explore the effects of relaxed clocks and calibration strategies on divergence time estimation: primates as a test case. Systematic Biology

Ní Leathlobhair M, Perri A, Irving-Pease E, Witt K, Linderholm A, Haile J, Lebrasseur O, Ameen C, Blick J, Boyko A, et al (2018). The evolutionary history of dogs in the Americas. Science

Sollars E, Harper A, Kelly L, Sambles C, Ramirez-Gonzalez R, Swarbreck D, Kaithakottil G, Cooper E, Uauy C, Havlickova L, et al (2017). Genome sequence and genetic diversity of European ash trees. Nature

Brunner F, Anaya-Rojas J, Matthews B, Eizaguirre C (2017). Experimental evidence that parasites drive eco-evolutionary feedbacks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Pracana R, Priyam A, Levantis I, Nichols R, Wurm Y (2017). The fire ant social chromosome supergene variant Sb shows low diversity but high divergence from SB. Molecular Ecology

Martín-Durán J, Passamaneck Y, Martindale M, Hejnol A (2016). The developmental basis for the recurrent evolution of deuterostomy and protostomy. Nature Ecology & Evolution

Price S, Garner T, Cunningham A, Langton T, Nichols R (2016). Reconstructing the emergence of a lethal infectious disease of wildlife supports a key role for spread through translocations by humans. Proceedings of the Royal Society B

McCarthy E, Chase M, Knapp S, Litt A, Leitch A, Le Comber S (2016). Transgressive phenotypes and generalist pollination in the floral evolution of Nicotiana polyploids. Nature Plants

Hartenstein V, Stollewerk A (2015). The evolution of early neurogenesis. Developmental Cell

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