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A Lecture by Leslea J. Hlusko

Baboon Mandibles
April 29, 2016
All Day
2015 McPherson Lab, reception to follow

The Department of Anthropology presents

"The evolution of the primate dentition, as the genome sees it"

By

Dr. Leslea J. Hlusko

Department of Integrative Biology
University of California
http://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/hlusko/index.php

 

Baboon showing teeth

 

Hlusko's research team explores how genes influence skeletal variation and how this has evolved through time. They use a transdisciplinary approach that includes quantitative genetics and gene expression studies to better understand how genetic mechanisms pattern the dentition. From these genetic data they develop hypotheses about the genetic architecture underlying primate dental variation, and then test these using phenotypic data from museum skeletal collections. In conjunction, she conducts field paleontology in eastern Africa, as fossils provide the time dimension for further testing these hypotheses about the relationship between genotype and phenotype.