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Michael R.McKain
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Education
B.A. Biology, Wabash College 2007
Research Interests
I am interested in the effects of polyploidy on genome content and structure evolution. In the evolutionary history of the angiosperm family Agavaceae, there was a polyploid event that may have given rise to the bimodal karytoype seen today. For the most part, the karyotype is conserved across the family except for the subfamily Chloragaloideae. Part of my research is looking at the number and type of genes retained in duplicate across the family and how they contrast between the Chlorogaloideae and the other family members.
My research interests also include phylogenetic reconstruction and speciation processes. I have been working with whole chloroplast genomes sequenced from eight Agavaceae to resolved the intergeneric relationships of the family. Once transcriptome sequencing for a few of these species is done, I will begin to add nuclear loci to these analyses. Another systematics project I am working on involves the section Chaenocarpa in the genus Yucca. These species are found mainly in the United States with major region of species overlap in Texas. There is evidence to suggest that of the three main lineages within Chaenocarpa, two exhibit hybridization while the third (also known as the Rupicolae) does not. I am interested in determining if hybridization does occur here and how much gene flow there is between species if it does.
Of Note
- 2010 National Science Foundation: Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant
- 2009 UGA Department of Plant Biology Jaworski Travel Award
- 2008 University of Michigan, Species Tree Workshop Travel Award
- 2008 UGA Department of Plant Biology Palfrey Research Grant
- 2007-2008 UGA Graduate School Assistantship
Major Professor
James H. Leebens-Mack
Associate Professor
My research employs genomic, phylogenetic and experimental analyses to investigate the genetic and ecology processes that influence diversification. Specific interests include the molecular genetics of diversification including speciation; the molecular basis of adaptation; the evolution of genome structure; genomic processes influencing gene family evolution; the evolutionary consequences of species interactions; and the coevolution of genes interacting in regulatory and developmental pathways.
Phylogenomics employs genome scale sequence data to resolve organismal relationships and investigate gene family evolution within the context of organismal relationships. Our lab uses phylogenomic approaches to explore the ecological, genetic and developmental processes that contribute to phenotypic diversification and speciation. We focus most of our attention on the evolution of reproductive characters in flowering plants. Much of our research involves phylogenetically based analyses, and we are working with collaborators to develop new empirical and analytical tools to extend the use of phylogenetic methods in comparative genomics. These tools form the foundation for comparative studies aimed at testing the degree to which characterizations of gene function and regulatory networks in model systems are applicable to other plant species.
Of Note
- 2010 National Science Foundation: Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant
- 2009 UGA Department of Plant Biology Jaworski Travel Award
- 2008 University of Michigan, Species Tree Workshop Travel Award
- 2008 UGA Department of Plant Biology Palfrey Research Grant
- 2007-2008 UGA Graduate School Assistantship