Molecular evolution and population genetics of primates, genome evolution

Research in my lab focuses on understanding the genetic basis for phenotypic change in primate evolution, with an emphasis on recent evolution in humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas. There are a large number of pronounced anatomical, behavioral, and physiological differences between these very closely related species. My lab aims to uncover what changes at what genes have been responsible for these differences. A special emphasis is placed on genes and gene families related to reproductive physiology, brain evolution, and the immune system.

A second area of research in my lab examines the patterns of genetic diversity in wild living primates. Beginning with noninvasively collected samples from African apes, we examine the genetic variation in different populations, subspecies, and species, in order to infer past events such as migration and changes in population size. In addition to being useful for reconstructing key aspects of a species' evolutionary history, this knowledge of the existing patterns of genetic diversity is essential in developing conservation programs for these endangered apes.

Representative Publications:

1. Jensen-Seaman MI, Furey TS, Payseur BA, Lu Y, Roskin KM, Chen C-F, Thomas MA, Haussler D, and Jacob HJ (2004) Comparative recombination rates in the rat, mouse, and human genomes. Genome Research 14:780-785.

2. Jensen-Seaman MI , Sarmiento EE, Deinard AS, and Kidd KK (2004) Nuclear integrations of mitochondrial DNA in gorillas. American Journal of Primatology 63:139-147.

3. Yu N, Jensen-Seaman MI, Chemnick L, Ryder O, and Li W-H (2004) Nucleotide diversity in gorillas. Genetics 166:1375-1383.

4. Jensen-Seaman MI and Li W-H (2003) Evolution of the hominoid semenogelin genes, the major proteins of ejaculated semen. Journal of Molecular Evolution 57:261-270.

5. Yu N, Jensen-Seaman MI, Chemnick L, Kidd JR, Deinard AS, Ryder O, Kidd KK, and Li W-H (2003) Low nucleotide diversity in chimpanzees and bonobos. Genetics 164:1511-1518.

6. Jensen-Seaman MI and Kidd KK (2001) Mitochondrial DNA variation and biogeography of eastern gorillas. Molecular Ecology 10:2241-2247.

7. Jensen-Seaman MI, Deinard AS , and Kidd KK (2001) Modern African ape populations as genetic and demographic models of the last common ancestor of humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas. Journal of Heredity 92:475-480.

Office Phone: 412.396.4597
Email: seamanm@duq.edu