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.
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.
Research Interests
Tree, Genomics, Ash Dieback, Evolution, Ecology, Genetics
Evolution, Genetics, Epigenetics, Comparative Genomics, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics
Dos Reis Barros, Dr Mario
Computational biology, Evolution, Molecular evolution, Phylogenetics, Population genetics
Eizaguirre, Dr Christophe
Aquatic ecology, Climate change, Conservation genetics, Evolutionary ecology, Fish, Marine turtles
Elphick, Prof Maurice
Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience
Physiology, Neuroscience, Evolution, Neuropeptide, Echinoderm, Cannabinoid
Lecturer in Molecular Genetics/Informatics
Evolution, Genetics, Speciation, Domestication
Reader in Epigenetics
Epigenetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, proteomics, development, genome plasticity, transcriptional regulation, nutrition-genome interactions, honey bees
Professor of Plant Genetics, Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes
Polyploidy, Cytogenetics, Plant genomics, Stoichiogenomics, Nicotiana, Ecology, Evolution
Professor of Evolutionary Genetics
Genetics, Evolution, Virology, Genomics
Professor in Molecular Ecology and Evolution
Evolution, Ecology, Genomics, Genetics, Mammals, Bats
Senior Lecturer in Bioinformatics
Ants, Genomics, Evolution, Sociality, Behaviour
Our research receives financial support from:
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