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We are studying the ways in which insects adapt to natural and
man-made toxins. Our research is motivated by a fascination with
adaptation and desire to improve the management of pest insects.
Our projects include:
- Molecular evolutionary studies of detoxification genes
- Population genetic analyses of 'selective sweeps' associated with insecticide resistance
- The transcriptional response to environmental toxins
Current Research:
Glutathione s-transferases
Gene structure and evolution of the Cyp6g1 locus of D. Melanogaster.
Screens for resistnace to natural toxins among D. melnogaster with sequenced genomes.
Initiating a 'new era' DNA-sequencing study of clinal variations in candidate genes.
Organisms:
Twelve Drosophila species have had, or are having, their genomes sequenced (http://rana.lbl.gov/drosophila/multipleflies.html).
We will be using this comparative genomics platform to look for
'footprints' of molecular adaptation and to further understand the
regulation of the 'detox' genes.
We are also studying insecticide resistance in Helicoverpa armigera (cotton boll worm), which is one of the most devastating of insect pests.
Gene Families:
- Carboxyl Esterases
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Glutathione S-Transferases,
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P450s
Collaborators:
In all of our research we have a strong symbiotic relationship with Assoc. Prof. Phil Batterham ,
and his team, where our molecular evolution and population genetics
interests dovetail with their mechanistic studies of insecticide
resistance.
Our work covering the isolation of
'detoxification genes' from H.armigera falls under the umbrella of the
Australian Research Councils funded 'Centre for Environment Stress and
Adaptation Research (CESAR)
Dr. David Heckel is a major contributor to this work and is currently the director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology.
Publications:
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