GENETICS & EVOLUTION

Animal phenotypic traits are highly diverse. Some traits have been shaped by natural and sexual selection for a long time and play important roles in survival and signalling. Our lab is studying the genetic basis of animal traits, and is trying to understand how did they evolve. One of the most diverse phenotypic traits in the natural world is animal coloration, and we are studying the genetic basis and evolution of it and how does it affect animal communication and speciation. Another big research interest of our lab is to study genes involved in immunity and senses.

Example Past & On-going Projects

Genetic basis of coloration
Genetic basis of bird plumage coloration (Sin et al. 2020; Enbody et al. 2022; Khalil et al. 2023)

PAIR OF CARDINALS IN A WINTER SCENE (C) Clarence Stewart size 2520_edited.jpg

Gene family evolution
Evolution of olfactory receptor genes (Sin et al. 2022) and MHC genes (Sin et al. 2012a, 2012b; Wong et al. 2022; Lam et al. 2023)

Animal senses
Evolution of taste in birds (Toda et al. 2021) and bats (Li et al. 2023)
Evolution of olfactory receptor genes (Sin et al. 2022)

Phylogenetics
(Sin et al. 2007, 2009a, 2009b; Kenny et al. 2015; Huynh et al. 2023)

Population genomics
The study of population structure and demographic history using genomic data (Dierickx et al. 2020; Sin et al. 2021; Enbody et al. 2022; Burley et al. 2022; Huynh et al. 2023)

GENETICS & EVOLUTION

Example Past & On-going Projects

Genetic basis of coloration Genetic basis of bird plumage coloration (Sin et al. 2020; Enbody et al. 2022; Khalil et al. 2023)

Gene family evolution Evolution of olfactory receptor genes (Sin et al. 2022) and MHC genes (Sin et al. 2012a, 2012b; Wong et al. 2022; Lam et al. 2023)

Animal senses Evolution of taste in birds (Toda et al. 2021) and bats (Li et al. 2023) Evolution of olfactory receptor genes (Sin et al. 2022)

Phylogenetics (Sin et al. 2007, 2009a, 2009b; Kenny et al. 2015; Huynh et al. 2023)

Population genomics The study of population structure and demographic history using genomic data (Dierickx et al. 2020; Sin et al. 2021; Enbody et al. 2022; Burley et al. 2022; Huynh et al. 2023)

Genetic basis of coloration
Genetic basis of bird plumage coloration (Sin et al. 2020; Enbody et al. 2022; Khalil et al. 2023)

Gene family evolution
Evolution of olfactory receptor genes (Sin et al. 2022) and MHC genes (Sin et al. 2012a, 2012b; Wong et al. 2022; Lam et al. 2023)

Animal senses
Evolution of taste in birds (Toda et al. 2021) and bats (Li et al. 2023)
Evolution of olfactory receptor genes (Sin et al. 2022)

Phylogenetics
(Sin et al. 2007, 2009a, 2009b; Kenny et al. 2015; Huynh et al. 2023)

Population genomics
The study of population structure and demographic history using genomic data (Dierickx et al. 2020; Sin et al. 2021; Enbody et al. 2022; Burley et al. 2022; Huynh et al. 2023)