Evolutionary genetics of energetic performance

Montooth Lab

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I am interested in the interactions between the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. These two genomes must interact in order for oxidative metabolism to function in the mitochondria, and if they co-evolved then it is possible that mitochondrial-nuclear incompatibilities may be seen when divergent genomes are brought together.

My focus has been on how the interaction between mitochondrial genotypes and the nuclear genome affects male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster. It has been shown that related species of Drosophila have differences in their mitochondrial and nuclear genomes that are incompatible (Montooth et al. 2010, Evolution), delay development, and lead to a decrease in female fecundity. I tested for effects of intergenomic epistasis on male fertility. While I did not find any epistatic effect, I did find a strong effect of the mitochondrial genotype on male fertility (Montooth, Mika & Joseph in prep). This has raised more questions dealing with resource allocation and trade-offs in flies with compromised mitochondrial function.

I am currently in the middle of designing my senior thesis project and applying and interviewing for graduate school programs.