David Lowry: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Evolution_cover.jpg|thumb|left|Photo by David Lowry]]
[[Image:Evolution_cover.jpg|thumb|left|Photo by David Lowry]]


[http://web.me.com/davidbryantlowry/Site/Welcome.html I am a new postdoc] at the [http://www.utexas.edu/ University of Texas at Austin] working on the genetics of adaptation and drought tolerance in switchgrass (''Panicum'').  The aims of this project are to understand the evolutionary genetic and genomic mechanisms responsible for abiotic stress tolerance in this group of grasses and to leverage this knowledge to eventually create higher yielding bioenergy crops that will require minimal water inputs.  This is an important goal, as there is often a [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-future-of-fuel trade-off between alternative energy sources], such as biofuels, with ever diminishing water resources.
[http://web.me.com/davidbryantlowry/Site/Welcome.html I am a new postdoctoral researcher] at the [http://www.utexas.edu/ University of Texas at Austin] working on the genetics of adaptation and drought tolerance in [http://genomicscience.energy.gov/research/DOEUSDA/switchgrass.shtml switchgrass] (''Panicum'').  The aims of this project are to understand the evolutionary genetic and genomic mechanisms responsible for abiotic stress tolerance in this group of grasses and to leverage this knowledge to eventually create higher yielding bioenergy crops that will require minimal water inputs.  This is an important goal, as there is often a [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-future-of-fuel trade-off between alternative energy sources], such as biofuels, with ever diminishing water resources.
   
   


Revision as of 11:11, 8 June 2010

In the field

About Me

Photo by David Lowry

I am a new postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin working on the genetics of adaptation and drought tolerance in switchgrass (Panicum). The aims of this project are to understand the evolutionary genetic and genomic mechanisms responsible for abiotic stress tolerance in this group of grasses and to leverage this knowledge to eventually create higher yielding bioenergy crops that will require minimal water inputs. This is an important goal, as there is often a trade-off between alternative energy sources, such as biofuels, with ever diminishing water resources.


The focus of my dissertation research was directed toward understanding the genetics of adaptation and speciation. To this end, I chose to study how divergent adaptation of the yellow monkey flower (Mimulus guttatus), to the coast versus inland habitat, contributes to reproductive isolation. I used a combination of QTL mapping and candidate gene strategies to determine the genetic mechanisms that underlie the divergence of morphological and life-history traits between coast and inland Mimulus guttatus. Further, I carried out reciprocal transplant experiments and population genetic analysis to demonstrate that coast and inland Mimulus are locally adapted and reproductively isolated. I also conducted a more recent reciprocal transplant experiment with near isogenic lines to test hypotheses of local adaptation and introgression between ecogeographic races. In addition, I conducted genetic analysis of flowering time under different light conditions, anthocyanin production in vegetative tissues, and ion accumulation. Finally, I was involved with multiple aspects of the Mimulus guttatus genome project.

Publications

Photo by David Lowry

Lowry, D. B. A brief history of local adaptation and 'stages in the evolution of plant species.' In prep

Lowry, D. B., C. Sheng, J.H. Willis. Genetics of variation in four vegetative anthocyanin phenotypes in Mimulus guttatus. In prep

Lowry, D.B., J. H. Willis. A widespread chromosomal inversion polymorphism contributes to a major life-history transition, local adaptation, and reproductive isolation. In review

Lowry, D. B., S. R. Kirshenbaum. Fulfilling the promises of a transgenic future. In review

Hall M. C., D. B. Lowry, J. H. Willis. (2010). Multiple independent genetic loci control local adaptation in wild populations of Mimulus guttatus. Molecular Ecology. In press

Lowry, D. B. (2010) Landscape evolutionary genomics. Biology Letters. In press

Wu, C. A., D. B. Lowry, L. I. Nutter, J. H. Willis. (2010) Natural variation for drought response in the Mimulus guttatus species complex. Oecologia 162: 23-33

Lowry, D. B., M. C. Hall, D. E. Salt, J. H. Willis. (2009). Genetic and physiological basis of adaptive salt tolerance divergence between coastal and inland Mimulus guttatus. New Phytologist 183: 776-788

Lowry, D. B., J. L. Modliszewski, K. M. Wright, C. A. Wu, J. H. Willis. (2008). The strength and genetic basis of reproductive isolating barriers in flowering plants. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 363: 3009-3021

Lowry, D. B., R. C. Rockwood, J. H. Willis. (2008). Ecological reproductive isolation of coast and inland races of Mimulus guttatus. Evolution 62: 2196-2214

Wu, C. A., D. B. Lowry, A. M. Cooley, K. M. Wright, Y. W. Lee, and J. H. Willis. (2008). Mimulus is an emerging model system for the integration of ecological and genomic studies. Heredity 100: 220-230.

Important Things

  • My Website
  • Contact Info: You can contact me at davidbryantlowry@gmail.com.

Field Sites

Habitat of coastal Mimulus
Habitat of inland Mimulus

Population Genetic Software

Relationship of coast (blue) and inland (orange) Mimulus guttatus

Abiotic Stress Websites

Frost on Mimulus flowers

Bioinformatic/Statistical Software and Resources

Analysis of fitness data

Other useful sites

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