Evolutionary and population genetics studies the origin and maintenance of genetic variation in populations, and uncovers molecular mechanisms of adaptation. Computational analysis of massive genomic data for human populations, bacterial pathogens, and cancers informs our understanding of evolution at the molecular level. At the same time, the application of evolutionary principles can guide the surveillance, diagnosis, and even treatment of antibiotic resistance, common human diseases, and cancer progression.
Faculty
Publications
Variant abundance estimation for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using RNA-Seq quantification (medRxiv, 2021)
Population sequencing data reveal a compendium of mutational processes in the human germ line (Science, 2021)
Mechanisms generating cancer genome complexity from a single cell division error (Science, 2020)
GWAS for quantitative resistance phenotypes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis reveals resistance genes and regulatory regions (Nat Commun, 2019)
Negative selection in humans and fruit flies involves synergistic epistasis (Science, 2017)
In the News
Damage Control (May 5, 2017)
Natural Selection Against Disease-Causing Mutations in Humans is Ongoing