Research
Combining field work, lab experiments, and computational analysis, my research program takes a multi-organism approach and uses the fruit flies and the eusocial termites to study genetic conflict, evolutionary innovation, and germ cell biology.
Genetic conflict
Evolutionary innovation
Germ cell biology
The genome is a battleground, where different genes compete for inheritance. Selfish genes, in particular, manipulate the development of eggs and sperm to bias inheritance in their favor. This “cheating” causes conflicts within the genome. When unresolved, these genetic conflicts can lead to fertility defects across a range of organisms, including humans. I study the evolution and mechanisms of genetic conflicts to provide generalizable insights into genome biology and reproduction.
The fascinating diversity in nature is shaped by a vast array of evolutionary innovations, from new genes to new cell types to new organs to new species. What drives these innovations, and how do they emerge over time? I test the hypothesis that perpetual battles within the genome for inheritance advantages spur recurrent genetic innovations. Using closely related fly and termite species, I work to decode the evolutionary driving forces and molecular mechanisms of genetic innovations.
Germ cells—the cells that will become eggs and sperm—are special in that they bridge consecutive generations in sexually reproducing organisms. Research into genetic conflicts and evolutionary innovations inherently advance our understandings of germ cell biology, and vice versa. I explore different facets of germ cell biology, especially aspects that set them apart from somatic cells, in both flies and termites, to better understand how genetic conflicts play out and how innovations emerge.