Hohenlohe Lab

Overview

Research in the Hohenlohe Lab centers on developing sophisticated theory and analytical tools and studying a range of natural and experimental systems to address a wide range of questions in the emerging field of evolutionary genomics.

Genomic Architecture of Evolution

The genetic basis of complex, multivariate phenotypes depends on the distribution and interactions of many loci across the genome.  Evolutionary forces shape this genomic architecture of phenotypic variation, and genomic architecture in turn constrains and bends the responses to natural selection and the trajectories of diversification.  Modern sequencing technology now allows us to take an empirical genome-scale view of evolution in a myriad of taxa.



Our research addresses a range of related questions: What is the genomic architecture of multivariate phenotypes in natural populations?  How do interactions between population structure, gene flow, and divergent natural selection shape genomic architecture to facilitate rapid evolution?  How many directions in phenotypic space are available to evolution?  How wrong are the traditional quantitative genetic assumptions about the structure of continuous phenotypic variation, and what is a better model?  We are using several empirical systems, from fish to yeast, to address these questions.

Conservation Genomics

Evolutionary genomic approaches have powerful applications to conservation of species and ecosystems.  We are collaborating with a number of researchers to improve techniques for developing large sets of genetic markers, assess phylogeographic structure, detect hybridization and introgression, and estimate patterns of genetic variation in natural populations.

Cancer as an Evolutionary Process

The cell lineages in a developing tumor form a highly heterogeneous, evolving population, and prognosis and treatment options depend on this evolutionary process.  We are seeking to combine evolutionary genomic theory and high-throughput sequencing to understand evolution in cancer at the genomic scale.

Collaborators

Fred Allendorf, University of Montana

Steve Arnold, Oregon State University

Bill Cresko, University of Oregon

Chris Funk, Colorado State University

Brian Langerhans, North Carolina State University

Gordon Luikart, University of Montana

Barry Williams, Michigan State University

Center for Evolution and Cancer, University of California San Francisco

For research support, thanks to:

   BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action