biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

24
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY,
EVOLUTION AND
PHYLOGENETICS
Research Interests
As a computational evolutionary biologist, my research interests
include molecular clocks, evolutionary rates, phylogenetic
methods, calibration techniques, and ancient DNA. My research
involves the analysis of genetic data to answer evolutionary
questions. Although most of my work has involved mammals
and other vertebrates, I am also interested in evolutionary
analyses of plants and viruses. I collaborate widely with
international researchers, including several ancient DNA
laboratories.
Honours projects
The two projects below provide an example of the
opportunities available under my supervision. Together with
Associate Professor Nathan Lo, I run the Molecular Ecology,
Evolution, and Phylogenetics Lab in the School of Biological
Sciences. Our facilities include a molecular laboratory and highperformance
computers.
sydney.edu.au/science/biology/meep/
1. Rates of molecular evolution in insects. The ‘molecular
clock’ hypothesis states that the rate of molecular evolution
is constant among organisms. Although it is now widely
known that evolutionary rates show significant variation,
Associate Professor
Simon Ho
Room 308, Edgeworth-
David Building A11
T: (02) 9351 8681
E: simon.ho@sydney.
edu.au
the patterns of variation have not been characterised in detail in insects. Some particularly
interesting questions include: (i) How much rate variation exists among orders of insects? (ii)
Do mitochondrial and nuclear genomes show similar patterns of rates? (iii) To what extent does
natural selection affect the patterns of rate variation in coding genes compared with noncoding
DNA? This project will involve collecting DNA sequence data from online databases and
published studies. Evolutionary rates will be estimated using current phylogenetic methods.
This project will provide the opportunity to develop bioinformatic skills and will gain a broad
appreciation of statistical and computational techniques in evolutionary biology.
2. Phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary timescale of carnivores. The mammalian order
Carnivora comprises more than 280 species, grouped into two suborders (cat-like and dog-like
carnivorans). This project will examine the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary timescale
of carnivorans, with a focus on the methods used for analysis. In particular, carnivorans present
a useful case study for examining the impacts of ‘missing data’ in phylogenetic analysis. The
research will involve collecting DNA sequences from online repositories, phylogenetic analysis,
and other computational techniques.