I treat evolution as one big forward-genetic screen to uncover mechanisms that modulate craniofacial form. For example, I can ask, “Within this group of diverse fishes, are there consistent genomic regions or pathways that are altered in species with large jaws?” Through this, I am extending our understanding of craniofacial development, evolution, and disease.

This work led to a publication on genetic and developmental sources of variation in a radiation of salmonid fishes. In another project, I uncovered a previously undescribed population of chondroid-like, cranial neural crest-derived cells that contribute to craniofacial morphology. I am currently defining the gene expression profile of these cells, their contributions to the jaw structures, and their cell biology through zebrafish genetic tools and spatial transcriptomics.

Related Projects

A human skull next to a fish skull.

Craniofacial development and disease 

The fundamentals of hat fitting.

decorative image.

Origins and proportions of the jaw

Taking a bite out of time.

a group of kronotskoe charr of varying sizes laid out on a deck.

Shifting size and form

Different shapes for different capes.

Publications

Scientific Communication