Faculty

Mutation is the source of all genetic variation, and is critical for evolution. Despite its importance, we still have a lot to learn about mutation. Why does the rate of mutation vary among species, genotypes, and genome architectures? What makes some sites in a genome more susceptible to mutation than others? How do the rate and fitness consequences of mutations vary across environments? What drives the evolution of the mutation process itself? My work incorporates not just single-nucleotide changes, but also the wide spectrum of structural alterations that can dramatically alter genetic structure, promote adaptation, or lead to disease. Using experiments with yeast and fruit flies, combined with genome sequencing and bioinformatics, my lab examines these and other aspects of mutation to broaden our understanding of this fundamental genetic process.