Evolution and behaviour
Evolution, genetics and adaptation
We have active research projects that span deep evolutionary relationships from the foundation of the tree of life through to evolutionary responses to global environmental change. Our researchers make use of cutting-edge computational approaches to studying the vast databases of genetic data in order to test novel hypotheses about the evolution of traits and taxa.
Other work focuses on genomic techniques that allows us to measure the expression of genes in organisms that are undergoing different levels of stress or that are found in different environmental conditions. Such studies allow us to understand the mechanisms that underlie phenotypic change and, as a result, responses to the environment. Experimental work in the laboratory is using new techniques such as RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 to silence genes in order to generate insights into the mechanistic basis for form, function, and behaviour.
Key researchers
|
Name |
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Dr Tom Bennett |
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Dr Amanda Bretman |
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Dr Steve Compton |
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Dr Elizabeth Duncan |
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Professor Alison Dunn |
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Dr Simon Goodman |
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Dr Christopher Hassall |
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Dr Andrew Peel |
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Dr Cassandra Raby |
|
Dr Steven Sait |
Research projects
o Evolution of eusociality: The hallmark of eusociality is the reproductive division of labour, in which one female caste reproduces, while reproduction is constrained in the subordinate caste. Work in Elizabeth Duncan’s lab has demonstrated that chemical inhibition of Notch signalling can overcome the repressive effect of queen pheromone and promote ovary activity in adult worker honeybees, providing the first molecular mechanism directly linking ovary activity in adult worker bees with the presence of the queen.