School of Biology University of St Andrews
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Adult Pomatoceros lamarckii

removed from habitation tube.

Fluorescent chromosome

in situ hybridisation of ANTP-class genes in Platynereis dumerilii

Genome Research

Tribolium castaneum

Expression of Pdu-Gsx in Platynereis

Gene Expression

AmphiXlox (black) and AmphiCdx (red) in an amphioxus neurula

Positions

Funded postdoctoral and postgraduate positions will be advertised here when available. Postgraduate applicants should consult the School’s website.

Informal enquiries are welcome at any time to discuss possible projects and funding, and I can be contacted at:

Dr David Ferrier,
The Scottish Oceans Institute
University of St Andrews
East Sands
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 8LB
UK

tel: +44 (0)1334 463480
e-mail: dekf@st-andrews.ac.uk

Evolutionary Developmental
Genomics (EDGe) Group

 

The Scottish Oceans Institute
School of Biology
University of St Andrews

We aim to understand how the diversity of animal form develops and evolved. The focus of our research is the connection between the content and organisation of genomes to the evolution of development (evo-devo).  The homeobox-containing genes of the Hox gene cluster have been a corner-stone of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, but much about cluster organisation and mode of operation remains unknown.

Also the Hox system is not unique as a gene cluster controlling animal development, further homeobox gene clusters being the ParaHox and NK clusters, all of which evolved within larger arrays of homeobox genes (the Mega-cluster and Super-Hox cluster). In addition to these issues of gene/genome organisation much of evo-devo has also involved changes to gene content (gene gains and losses) as well as redeployment into new roles.

We utilize a variety of organisms in our research (including amphioxus, sea squirts, polychaetes and priapulids), chosen from key points in the phylogeny of the animals to enable reconstruction of the ancestral conditions at major nodes in the animal kingdom; the origin of bilaterians, protostomes, deuterostomes, chordates and vertebrates.