EDUCATION:
Ph.D. Biology (In progress) Texas A&M University, Thesis Advisor, Adam Jones
2004 B.S. with Honors. Biology. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Advisor, Carla Cáceres
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RESEARCH INTERESTS:
I am interested in the evolution of quantitative genetic traits, at the level of individual developmental processes and at the population level.
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CURRENT PROJECTS:
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What is the genetic architecture underlying variation in segment number?
The number of body segments, or the number of vertebrae, varies in natural populations of the Gulf Pipefish. QTL mapping, using microsatellite and SNP markers, will show patterns of segregation between phenotypic variation (in number of body segments) and allelic variation (at the marker loci). Research in the zebrafish community has supplied a suite of candidate genes involved in the segmentation mechanism.
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What is the role of HOX gene expression in body plan variation between trunk brooding and tail brooding pipefish?
In situ hybridization will show the expression of HOX genes throughout development. This series will be completed in both a species that carries embryos on the tail, the Gulf Pipefish, and a species that carries embryos on the trunk, the Multibanded Pipefish. HOX gene expression is well characterized in several other fish groups, including the sticklebacks; however the elongate body shape of Syngnathids may be reflected in the expression of HOX genes. HOX gene expression has been linked to variation in the type of body segments of the garter snake.
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Exploring the development and evolution of elaborate ornaments.
Family Syngnathidae includes a variety of interesting axial elaborations, such as the prehensile tail of the seahorses. Several species show cryptic anti-predator traits, which are formed from fleshy branched appendages. I’m interested in exploring the genetic basis of these traits. Furthermore, in some species, such as the ribboned sea dragon, the appendages are permanent, but in others, such as the dwarf seahorse, they are plastic. This facilitates a comparative approach studying the evolutionary history in these two unique traits.
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| AWARDS:
2007 Sigma Xi Grant-In-Aid of Research
2007 EEB Student Travel Award
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