In the Ness lab we investigate how the generation of variation by mutation and recombination interacts with genetic drift and natural selection to drive evolution. Our work combines natural and experimental populations with newfangled genomic technologies. 

Mutation

Mutation creates all new genetic variants. How does variation in mutation rate across the genome and between individuals drive evolution?

REcombination

Recombination shuffles variation into new combinations. This shuffling affects whether natural selection can favour adapttive mutations and purge harmful mutations. 

Drift vS. Selection

The fate of variation created by mutation and recombination is decided by the balance between drift and selection. How have these two forces combined to create genomes as we know them?

Posts

Visit the lab @ the UTM Biology Recruitment Weekend March 1-4 2018

Interested in getting involved with research in evolutionary genomics? Visit us during the UTM Biology recruitment weekend!

THE NESS LAB IS RECRUITING GRADUATE STUDENTS NOW

The Ness lab is recruiting multiple funded graduate positions (MSc/PhD) to explore evolution in the genome. 

STUDY OF MUTATION PROVIDES A PEeK INTO CHLOROPLAST GENETICS

In a recent paper, we were able to detect de novo mutations in a chloroplast genome for the first time.

MUTATION RATE varies between individuals and across the genome

We explore fundamental properties of mutation and show the rich diversity of mutation rates and forms in the genome.