We are increasingly realizing that the genetic information encoded in DNA is only part of what makes an organism. Epigenetic information is responsible for incredible variation both between cells within an individual, and between individuals in a population. This information also has the possibility of being transmitted from parent to offspring, providing an epigenetic memory across generations.
I am interested in how epigenetics contribute to heritable phenotypes, adaptation and evolution. We use different insect models to study this in the lab from the level of microscopic molecules all the way to whole organisms and populations. Our current research is focused around three main themes:
- What are the molecular mechanisms by which epigenetic signals are transmitted through the germline?
- To what extent does heritable epigenetic information contribute to phenotypic variation in natural populations?
- What are the molecular epigenetic signals underpinning insect polyphenism?
