Evolutionary Developmental Biology

Without an understanding of an organism's evolution, we cannot make sense of why it functions as it does today, nor predict how it might respond to future challenges. We study evolution at almost every level, seeking to understand the roles played by genetics, behavior, development, and the environment.

Faculty & Research Interests

Alexandra E. Bely, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., State University of New York-Stony Brook, 1999. Evolution and mechanism of regeneration and segmentation. Animal body plan evolution.

Karen Carleton, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1987. Evolution of visual systems, visual communication and speciation, phototransduction, sensory genomics.

Catherine E. Carr, Professor; Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 1984. Cellular mechanisms of sound localization in birds; evolution of the auditory system.

Cristian I. Castillo-Davis, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Harvard University, 2003. The genetic basis of phenotypic change, the evolution of gene regulation and gene networks, computational biology and statistics.

Eric S. Haag, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Indiana University, 1997. Molecular and functional evolution of nematode sex determination genes.

William R. Jeffery, Professor; Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1971. Evolution of developmental mechanisms. 

Thomas D. Kocher, Professor: Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1986; Molecular evolution, population genetics, evolution of development, genetics of speciation, evolution of sex determination.

J. Dennis O'Connor, Professor; Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1968. Developmental biology and the mode of action of steroid hormones.

Arthur N. Popper, Professor; Ph.D., CUNY Graduate Center, 1969. Function, development and evolution of T6 auditory system in non-mammalian vertebrates.