Evolution Research

I am interested in how gene expression is regulated to pattern anatomical structures during vertebrate embryonic development.

By understanding the mechanism of regulation of gene expression, we can begin to understand how complex anatomical structures form in evolutionarily divergent species and how medical disorders occur in humans.

Students working with me will obtain experience in the following:

• Bioinformatics-based programs (CLUSTAL, VISTA, etc.)
• In situ hybridization for tissue-specific gene expression
• Light microscopy
• Embryo manipulation
• DNA/RNA extraction
• PCR
• RT-PCR
• Plasmid DNA production and transformation
• Morphometric analysis of cellular and subcellular activities (e.g. cell shape, cell polarity)
• Molecular phylogenetics

Davis A, Amin N, Johnson C, Bagley K, Ghashghaei HT, Nascone-Yoder N. 2017. Stomach curvature is generated by left-right asymmetric gut morphogenesis. Development 144(8):1477-1483.

Davis A, Reubens M, Stellwag EJ. 2016. Functional and comparative genomics of Hoxa2 gene cis-regulatory elements: evidence for evolutionary modification of ancestral core element activity. Journal of Developmental Biology 4(2):E15.

Lyon RS, Davis A, Scemama JS. 2013. Spatio-temporal expression patterns of anterior Hox genes during Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) embryonic development. Gene Expression Patterns 13(3-4):104-108.

Davis A, Stellwag EJ. 2010. Spatio-temporal patterns of Hox parolog group 3-6 gene expression during Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryonic development. Gene Expression Patterns 10(6):244-250.

Davis A, Scemama J, Stellwag EJ. 2008. Japanese medaka Hox paralog group 2: insights into the evolution of Hox PG2 gene composition and expression in the Osteichthyes. Journal of Experimental Zoology (Molecular and Developmental Evolution) 310(8):623-641.