Welcome to the Zhuang Lab

         One of the central goals of modern biology is to understand the genetic basis that underlies biodiversity. Our research is focused on both characterizing the pattern of allelic and genic diversity and understanding the origin and the forces that maintain this diversity. Specific questions guiding our work include: 1) What are the molecular changes and mechanisms to create genetic novelty? 2) What is the genetic basis of phenotypic variation upon which natural selection acts? To explore these questions, we employ a combination of molecular evolution, comparative genomics, bioinformatics, and genetics approaches working on both model and non-model systems.

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1. Deciphering the Genetic Basis of Novel Gene Evolution

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        Understanding how genes originate and evolve is essential in deciphering the genetic basis of novel phenotypes and, ultimately, biological diversity. The severe cold Arctic and Antarctic waters are natural laboratories where strong selective pressures have led to a number of remarkable evolutionary innovations. The fish fauna of these waters are thus literal swimming experiments to test the biological impacts of natural selections. One research direction in the Zhuang lab will focus on investigating genomic signatures of this impact, looking to understand the roles of new gene formation and gene loss in adaptive evolution along with their roles in generating and maintaining biodiversity.

 

2.  Decoding the Genetic Source of Variation in Complex Traits

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        In addition to the genetic innovations that flow from gene gain and loss, genetic variation such as single nucleotide polymorphism is also a major component contributing to phenotypic diversity. With much of this diversity building upon complex traits, understanding their genetic architecture is therefore essential for decoding the “black box” that lies between genotype and phenotype as well as understanding how evolutionary processes impact phenotypic variation. Drosophila the fruit fly provides powerful tools for exploring genetic variation and the underlying mechanisms. Therefore another research direction in the Zhuang lab is to exploit the vast reservoir of natural variation in fruit flies for researching complex models of human disease and their interactions with environmental factors such as diet and drugs.