Douglas L. Crawford
Professor, Marine Biology and Ecology
Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science
dcrawford@miami.edu
The genomic architecture driving physiological performance is complex, involving many genes with a variety of functions. Understanding how this complex architecture impacts phenotypes and enhances performance is vital for comprehending what defines a healthy individual. Dr. Crawford’s research utilizes genomic techniques to identify genetic polymorphisms that are evolving through natural selection and thereby affect fitness. These studies aim to define the molecular mechanisms driving physiological performance by identifying cis/trans regulatory mechanisms and linkage among genetic polymorphisms. By determining the number, diversity, and regulatory roles of adaptive genes, we aim to improve society's understanding of the genetics of health. An example of this research is the divergence among natural populations of the small fish Fundulus heteroclitus. Among well-connected populations, where there should be little neutral or demographic genetic divergence, there are significant differences in physiological processes associated with genetic variation affecting both physiological performance and mRNA expression. Surprisingly, much of this genetic divergence acts in trans, where a distant genetic polymorphism affects many unlinked genes. These data suggest that there are many, and many unexpected, genetic polymorphisms driving a healthy phenotype.
Keywords: genomics, populations, evolution, traits, adaptation, phenotypes, genetic polymorphisms, variation, divergence
