PYI: Interspecific Molecular Variation

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Dr. David M. Hillis's research interests concern the analysis of ribosomal genes of representatives of each of the families of frogs, as well as other amphibians. Such molecular techniques are extremely powerful as a means of recovering evolutionary history over the hundreds of millions of years of amphibian evolution. This work includes sequencing a portion of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene that contains numerous insertions (added lengths of genetic code). In addition, two other problems occupy Hillis's attention. First, he is involved in efforts to isolate and identify specific gene fragments from well-preserved 10,000 year old human remains found at Little Salt Spring, Florida. Second, he is studying the genetics of the highly polymorphic tree snail Liguus fasciatus, which has proven to consist of populations that reproduce with genetic recombination in some locations but clonally and without genetic recombination at others. Dr. Hillis's academic institution is the University of Texas at Austin. Funding is provided through a Presidential Young Investigator Award for a duration of five years.