Evolutionary Genetics of Fishes

我的研究项目侧重于了解鱼类进化变化的遗传基础。我特别关注进化过程的两个主要组成部分。首先，我研究个体之间的遗传差异如何导致其外观（表型）和后代数量和生存（适合度）的变化。其次，我确定这些基因差异是如何在种群之间被分割的，当它们开始在基因上分化成不同的物种。我研究了来自冰岛的不同形式的北极木炭，它们在大小、外观、摄食习惯和生态上都有所不同，并共同生活在不同的湖泊中。特别是，我正在确定这些不同形式可能产生的方式，并研究这些形式在新物种起源中的作用。北极炭黑由于其显著的表型和遗传多样性以及产生实验家族的能力，继续成为这项工作的模型。

My research program focuses on understanding the genetic basis of evolutionary change in fishes. In particular I am concentrating on two major components of the evolutionary process. Firstly, I study how genetic differences among individuals lead to variation in their appearance (phenotype) and numbers and survival of their offspring (fitness). Secondly, I determine how those genetic differences can become partitioned between populations when they begin to diverge genetically into different species. I examine different forms (morphs) of Arctic charr from Iceland that differ in size, appearance, feeding habits and ecology, and live together in different lakes. In particular I am determining the way in which these different forms might have arisen, and also investigating the role of such forms in the origin of new species. Arctic charr continue to be models for this work because of their remarkable phenotypic and genetic diversity and the ability to produce experimental families.