Postdoctoral fellow, Human &
Molecular Genetics Center , Medical College of Wisconsin,
2001-2004
Postdoctoral fellow, Dept of Ecology & Evolution,
University of Chicago, 2000-2001
Ph.D., Biological Anthropology, Yale University
, 2000
B.S., Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin
, 1993 |
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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
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