{"id":167,"date":"2022-09-08T09:25:11","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T08:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/research\/?post_type=research_group&p=167"},"modified":"2022-12-21T10:19:19","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T10:19:19","slug":"evolutionary-developmental-genomics-edge-group","status":"publish","type":"research_group","link":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/research\/research-group\/evolutionary-developmental-genomics-edge-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Evolutionary Developmental Genomics (EDGe) Group"},"content":{"rendered":"

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).\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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, Giga-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.<\/p>\n

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, as well as the origin of the entire animal kingdom. Knowledge of such ancestors is vital in understanding subsequent diversification.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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).\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":168,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-167","research_group","type-research_group","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"group_members":"

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People<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
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\"\"PI:<\/h1>\r\nDr David E.K. Ferrier<\/strong>\r\n(e-mail\u00a0dekf@st-andrews.ac.uk<\/a>)\r\n\r\nBiography:\r\n\r\n2017 \u2013 present: Reader in Biology, and Deputy Director of The Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, UK\r\n\r\n2015 \u2013 2017: Senior Lecturer in Biology.\u00a0The Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, UK\r\n\r\n2012 \u2013 2015: Lecturer in Biology.\u00a0The Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, UK\r\n\r\n2007 \u2013 2012: RCUK Fellow in Marine Biology.\u00a0The Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, UK\r\n\r\n2003-2007: Departmental Lecturer in Animal Diversity\r\nDepartment of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK\r\n\r\n1999-2003: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the lab of Prof. Peter Holland\r\nUniversity of Reading, UK\r\n\r\n1997-1998: EC Marie Curie TMR Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Dr. Jordi Garcia-Fern\u00e0ndez\r\nUniversity of Barcelona, Spain\r\n\r\n1991-1995: PhD and\r\n1995-1996: Wellcome Research Associate with Prof. Michael Akam\r\nUniversity of Cambridge, UK\r\n

Present group members:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nDr Nuria P Torres-Aguila<\/strong>\r\n\r\nPostdoctoral Research Fellow\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\n(e-mail:\u00a0<\/span>npta1@st-andrews.ac.uk<\/a>)\r\n\r\nResearch: Diversification of TCF family genes\r\n\r\nBiography:\r\n\r\n2020 \u2013 present: Postdoctoral research fellow, University of St Andrews, UK.\r\n\r\n2016-2019: PhD in Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain; in agreement with \u2018Vall d\u2019Hebron\u2019 Research institute (VHIR) and \u2018Fundaci\u00f3 Doc\u00e8ncia i Recerca M\u00fatuta Terrassa\u2019 (FMT).\r\n\r\nPhD project: Massive genetic studies in ischemic stroke: factors of risk and outcome (Supervisor: Dr Israel Fernandez-Cadenas).\r\n\r\n2015-2016: Specialized technician in charge of laboratory cultures of marine chordates and microalgae in Dr. Albalat and Dr. Ca\u00f1estro\u2019s laboratory.\r\n\r\n2014-2015: Master in Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain.\r\n\r\nHonours project: Genetic analysis of the developmental alterations of\u00a0<\/span>Oikopleura dioica<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>caused by toxins produced in the blooms of diatoms associated with the global warming (Co-supervisors: Prof Ricard Albalat & Dr Cristian Ca\u00f1estro).\r\n\r\n2010-2014: Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain.\r\n\r\nHonours project: Study of the production and toxicity of mircoalgae during the culture of\u00a0<\/span>Oikopleura dioica<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>(Co-supervisors: Prof Ricard Albalat & Dr Cristian Ca\u00f1estro).\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nMiss Madeleine Aase-Remedios\"\"<\/a><\/strong>\r\n\r\nPhD student\r\n\r\n(e-mail: mear2@st-andrews.ac.uk)\r\n\r\nResearch: The role of gene and genome duplications in animal evolution.\r\n\r\nBiography:\r\n\r\n2018 \u2013 present: PhD, University of St Andrews\r\n\r\n2014 \u2013 2018: BSc Hons. Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh\r\n\r\nHonours project: Statistical analysis of incisor abnormalities and late-life fitness in wild Soay sheep.\r\n\r\n2017: BBSRC EASTBIO REP summer internship, University of St Andrews.\u00a0Metazoa-wide survey of SINE\/Six gene family of homeobox transcription factors\r\n
\r\n\r\nMiss Anastasia Ellis<\/strong>PhD student\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\n(email: ae47@st-andrews.ac.uk)\r\n\r\n2020- present: BBSRC EASTBIO DTP PhD, University of St Andrews, UK\r\n\r\nPhD title: ParaHox gene regulation in the chordates\r\n\r\n2016-2020: BSc Biochemistry, University of St Andrews, UK\r\n\r\n2018-2020:\u00a0Laidlaw Scholar Undergraduate student\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","publications":"[publications flag='individual' code='dekf' dois='1' max='10' categorise='1']","research_projects":"
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Research<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
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\"\"<\/a>
Reconstruction of the Urbilaterian Super-Hox cluster (adapted from Butts et al (2008) TiGs 24,259-62).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\nWe 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).\r\n