Trait evolution
The characteristics of species can change over time due to mutations in the DNA. This trait evolution leads to diversity within a species and may confer fitness advantages in certain environments. Some new traits can become fixed and ultimately result in the origin of new species. At the Biosystematics group, we investigate the evolution of important traits across populations and species in both plants and animals. To uncover the genetic mechanisms underlying trait evolution, we study evolutionary changes in the structure of genomes, genes, and gene regulatory networks.
