While we can learn a lot about these subjects from traditional lab mammals, the world beyond the lab contains thousands of mammalian species, each of which represents an evolutionary experiment. With this in mind, we engage in lab research with diverse mammals and in fieldwork on several continents to mine the information contained in these ‘natural mutants’.
Evo-devo
of form
We study developmental processes that create new forms across the animal kingdom, and the degree to which these processes contribute to evolution.
Evolutionary radiations
We explore biological processes that allow mammalian species to diversify in response to environmental conditions.
Human
Health
We use mammals with unique traits as model species to explore the cellular, molecular, and developmental drivers of human anatomy, physiology, longevity, and health.
Establishing the developmental rules that shape the evolution of mammal form
We explore why certain mammalian forms have never evolved, while others have evolved again and again. We investigate the structure, character, and dynamics of mammalian development and evolution.
Funding: NSF IOS 2017803, NSF IOS 1257873, National Geographic Society, NIH HD050042-01
Understanding evolutionary radiations in bats
We help untangle the biological forces (i.e. genomic, anatomical, and ecological) that help bats adapt to their changing environment. We are researching adaptations in many systems, including sensory systems, teeth, skeletons, and wing membranes.
Funding: NSF IOS 2017803, NSF IOS 1257873, NSF DEB 1442142, National Geographic Society, NIH HD050042-01
Use of natural mammalian diversity to study issues relevant to human health
We use “weird” mammal species, including the short-tailed opossum and bats, as model systems. We use these natural mutants to study the links between development and biological aging and other drivers of biological aging in long-lived mammals.
Funding: NIH OD OD022988, NIH HD050042-01
Historically, embryology and development were rich fields of study that heavily factored into early evolutionary theory. However, with the modern synthesis of the 1930’s and 40’s, development was largely extracted from evolutionary theory. Our work, and that of many many others, is helping to reunite the fields of development and evolutionary biology.
Many of the major challenges in human health, i.e., aging, regeneration, menopause, have already been solved by other mammals. We are working to unravel how other mammals have circumvented these issues, with the goal of applying that knowledge to help humans mitigate these issues as well.
Through our research, we aim to illustrate that there are important insights that can be gained by study of non-traditional model systems that cannot be achieved when only single species or clades are studied.
