We are focused on interesting questions in vertebrate genetics. Because the lab is question focused, we apply a wide range of techniques from diverse fields. We learn whichever method we anticipate will provide the most insight to the problem. We draw from fields as diverse as: anthropology, paleontology, ecology, molecular biology, developmental biology, animal models, cell culture, molecular evolution, genetics, genomics, genome engineering, statistics, computer science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. We are excited to develop our own tools when we need something that does not exist. We then distribute these tools to the scientific community to aid in discoveries made by other groups.
What are the genetic changes that have made us uniquely human? These mutations underlie our amazing abilities as well as our predisposition to certain diseases.
What are the genetic changes that underlie how humans and other vertebrates adapt to the environment? Why are some species seemingly able to easily adapt while others are restricted to their current environment?
Some traits, such as feathers on birds, have fascinated humans for centuries, yet we do not currently understand the genetic changes that underlie these traits.