Summary

Research in the lab focuses on plant evolutionary genetics, in particular in relation to evolutionary processes in the Brassicaceae. We are interested in applying genetic and population genomic methods to better understand classic evolutionary transitions, such as mating system shifts. We are also interested in quantifying the impact of natural selection on different types of sites across plant genomes, and in understanding the contribution of regulatory changes to adaptive phenotypic evolution.

Our research involves generating and analyzing large-scale population genetic sequence data sets. We also study gene expression variation and use genetic analyses such as quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping to elucidate the genetic basis of phenotypic variation. A long-term aim is to integrate these analyses in order to quantify the impact of natural selection on genomic regions involved in phenotypic and regulatory evolution.

The main study system in the lab is the crucifer genus Capsella. This genus offers an excellent opportunity for studying the consequences of mating system shifts and plant speciation, as well as regulatory evolution, in a setting where the timeframe of speciation and phenotypic evolution is well characterized.

Current research projects in the lab include:

1. Evolution of floral traits in association with a recent mating system shift
2. Adaptive significance of regulatory changes in plants
3. Factors affecting rates of protein evolution in Arabidopsis
4. Adaptive processes in Arabis alpina

Our research is funded by the Swedish Research Council.
 

Current Collaborators

• Stephen Wright, University of Toronto
• Thomas Bataillon, University of Aarhus
• Mikkel Schierup, University of Aarhus
• Jon Ågren, Uppsala University
• Michael Lenhard and Adrien Sicard, Potsdam University