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| ==Contact Info== | | <div style="padding: 10px; color: #ffffff; background-color: #000; width: 760px"> |
| [[Image:LeviLCOR.jpg|thumb|right|this is me ]]
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| *Levi T. Morran
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| *lmorran@indiana.edu
| | <font size = 7> Morran Lab </font> |
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| Indiana University
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| Jordan Hall room 117
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| 1001 E. 3rd St.
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| Bloomington, IN, USA
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| | <font size = 6> [http://www.biology.emory.edu/ Coming to Emory University January 2014] </font> |
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| I am currently a postdoc in the [http://sites.bio.indiana.edu/~livelylab/ Lively lab] at Indiana University.
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| Email me if you would like a full version of my CV.
| | [[Morranlab | <font size = 3.2> <font face="trebuchet ms" style="color:#ffffff"> '''Home''' </font>]] |
| | [[Morranlab:Contact | <font face="trebuchet ms" style="color:#ffffff"> '''Contact''' </font>]] |
| | [[Morranlab:Lab Members | <font face="trebuchet ms" style="color:#ffffff"> '''People''' </font>]] |
| | [[Morranlab:Publications | <font face="trebuchet ms" style="color:#ffffff"> '''Publications''' </font>]] |
| | [[Morranlab:Research | <font face="trebuchet ms" style="color:#ffffff"> '''Research''' </font>]] |
| | [[Morranlab:Media Coverage| <font face="trebuchet ms" style="color:#ffffff"> '''Media''' </font>]] |
| | [[Morranlab:Blog Posts | <font face="trebuchet ms" style="color:#ffffff"> '''Blogging''' </font>]] |
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| ==Education==
| | [[Image:serratia.jpg|500px]] |
| <!--Include info about your educational background-->
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| * 2009, PhD, University of Oregon
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| * 2004, BS, Indiana University
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| ==Research interests== | | <font size = 4> Evolutionary Genetics/Ecology |
| I am broadly interested in factors that either facilitate or constrain '''adaptive evolution'''. Currently I am exploring the roles that '''genetic partitioning''' and the '''distribution of genetic variation''' play in the adaptive process through the study of both mating system evolution and the coevolutionary dynamics of mutualisms.
| | of Host-Microbe Interactions and The Evolution of Sex </font> |
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| I utilize [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_evolution '''experimental evolution'''] to directly test hypotheses and determine the manner in which evolution proceeds by characterizing both the phenotypic and genetic changes that occur in evolving populations.
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| * '''Mating System Evolution'''
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| Mating systems are the means by which genes are transmitted from parent to offspring, and as such, they determine the level of genetic variation between parent and offspring, and between siblings, thus shaping the distribution of genetic variation within populations and ultimately shaping the evolutionary trajectory of a population.
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| Reproduction is a basic requirement in biology. Despite this ubiquitous importance, there are many ways in which organisms reproduce. Even within the category of sexual reproduction, some organisms utilize outcrossing while others are capable of self-fertilization. Although both forms of reproduction may result in the production of genetically variable offspring, each mating system partitions genetic variation differently within and between lineages. I am interested in the selective pressures that favor specific mating systems, the genetic consequences of each mating system, and their overall role in shaping a population or lineage's evolutionary trajectory over time.
| | http://openwetware.org/images/3/35/04_ISupportOWW.png |
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| The Red Queen Hypothesis predicts that selective pressure from coevolving parasites can select for increased sexual reproduction (or outcrossing) in host populations because sex (or outcrossing) can produce offspring with rare genotypes that may avoid infection. Thus the Red Queen Hypothesis combines my interests (mating systems and coevolution) quite well, and it also happens to be a central component of the research program in the Lively Lab. I am currently using the ''C. elegans'' system to experimentally test Red Queen Hypothesis predictions via experimental evolution.
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| * '''Coevolutionary Dynamics of Mutualism'''
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| Coevolution, reciprocal genetic change between interacting species driven by natural selection, accounts for a significant proportion of the evolutionary change that occurs in nature. This is quite reasonable because most, if not all, species live as members of communities composed of many species. As a result of interactions between species in a community, many species utilize not only their own genome, but also the genome of at least one other species to facilitate both survival and reproduction. Although genes are (usually) naturally partitioned by the species barrier, these inter-species genomic interactions exert selective pressure which can alter the composition of the interacting genomes, and therefore profoundly influence the evolutionary trajectories of the interacting species.
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| Genetic correlations between traits within individuals are known to influence the rate and magnitude of adaptive evolution. However, genetically correlated traits across species, such as those that facilitate interaction between mutualist partners, are also predicted to facilitate or constrain adaptive evolution with the additional complication of the species barrier (generally) preventing the genes to be united into the same genome.
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| The species barrier generally provides physical separation between the genomes of two different species. However genetic correlations between coevolving species can transcend this barrier such that selective pressure on one species may dictate the evolutionary trajectory of all coevolving species, despite the fact .
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| Genetic partitioning from parent to offspring through the study of mating system evolution. I am also investigating the effects of genetic partitioning across the species barrier through the study of genetic correlations among coevolving traits within mutualistic partner species.
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| ==Collaborators==
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| *[http://www.uoregon.edu/~pphil/ Jennifer Anderson, University of Oregon, Phillips Lab]
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| *[http://www.indiana.edu/~bioweb/faculty/directory/profile.php?person=fbasheyv Farrah Bashey-Visser, Indiana University]
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| *[http://www.bact.wisc.edu/faculty.php?init=HGB Heidi Goodrich-Blair, University of Wisconsin-Madison]
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| *[http://www.indiana.edu/~curtweb/ Curt Lively, Indiana University]
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| *[http://www.uoregon.edu/~pphil/ Michelle Parmenter, University of Oregon, Phillips Lab]
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| *[http://www.uoregon.edu/~pphil/ Patrick Phillips, University of Oregon]
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| ==Publications==
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| <biblio>
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| #Paper1 Bashey, F., L.T. Morran, and C.M. Lively. 2007. Coinfection, kin selection, and the rate of host exploitation by a parasitic nematode. Evolutionary Ecology Research 9: 947-958.
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| #Paper2 pmid=19210536
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| #Paper3 pmid=19847164
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| #Paper4 pmid=20212008
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| </biblio>
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| ==Research in News and Media Coverage==
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| '''Mutation load and rapid adaptation favour outcrossing over self-fertilization:'''
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| [http://f1000biology.com/article/id/1221956 Faculty of 1000 review]
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| [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19924202 News and Views, Agrawal, AF. 2009 Evolutionary biology: Why reproduction often takes two.]
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| [http://comm.uoregon.edu/archive/news-release/2009/10/why-sex-partner-better University of Oregon news release]
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| [http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/the_laboratory_worm_turns_fina.html The Oregonian]
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| [http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/10/why_have_sex_with_someone_else_when_you_could_do_it_with_you.php?utm_source=sbhomepage&utm_medium=link&utm_content=channellink Not Exactly Rocket Science]
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| [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2009/10/the-arcs-of-evolutionary-genetics-always-cross-back/ Discover]
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| [http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docid=632209 healthfinder.gov]
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| [http://blog.taragana.com/n/why-sex-with-partner-is-always-a-good-idea-203046/ Asian News International]
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| [http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-10380276-247.html CNET News]
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| The following two links include sexual content that may not be suitable for all individuals:
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| [http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4716118 Fark]
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| [http://www.esarcasm.com/6756/scientists-please-have-sex-with-others/ Esarcasm]
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| ==Science and Faith==
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| I am a Christian evolutionary biologist. I chose evolutionary biology (and specifically experimental evolution) as a field of study to get a firsthand look at the process of evolution as part of a personal search for truth. After almost 10 years of research, I am continually fascinated by, and an ardent proponent of, evolution and its comprehensive ability to explain the diversity of life on Earth. My quest for truth through the study of evolution has only served to strengthen my faith and allowed me to experience both intellectual and spiritual freedom by embracing both faith and science as integral components in my life.
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| Given my faith and my love of science, it is no surprise that I have a keen interest in the creation/evolution debate currently ongoing in the United States. I believe that Intelligent Design and certain forms of Creationism threaten to undermine the scientific integrity of science classrooms across the country, while also marginalizing and sabotaging religious faith. I am particularly interested in making science and the scientific method accessible, comprehensible, and nonthreatening to faith-based groups in an effort to preserve scientific integrity and reconcile the '''fact''' of evolution with '''faith''' in the supernatural.
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| I am profoundly interested in the relationship between science and faith. It is one of my favorite discussion points, so please feel free to email me with your thoughts or comments. I truly enjoy civil discussion and hearing different points of view.
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| [http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/ Ken Miller] and [http://biologos.org/about Francis Collins] are excellent scientists and scholars that present compelling cases regarding the compatibility of science and faith. I highly recommend their work to anyone exploring this topic.
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| ==Organizations I Support==
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| *[http://www.teamzachary.com/ Team Zachary] raises funds for cancer research in memory of my best friend Zach May.
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| *[http://adopt.smokymountaingreatdanerescue.org/ Smoky Mountain Great Dane Rescue], run by my brother and his wife, fosters, adopts, and advocates for Great Danes in the Southeastern US.
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| *[http://ncse.com/ National Center for Science Education] is an organization that advocates for the inclusion of evolution and exclusion of nonscientific "origins" theories in public school science curricula.
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| *[http://mamatina.org/ Mama Tina Resource Center] is a Kenyan Christian organization that provides care and education for AIDS orphans in Kenya.
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| *[http://www.heifer.org/ Heifer International] combats poverty and social inequity worldwide by providing communities and families with environmentally sound and sustainable resources, and trains them to use those resources responsibly.
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| ==Lifetime Collaborators==
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| [[Image:Em.jpg|left|thumb|Research Partner]]
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| [[Image:wormmag.jpg|left|thumb|Research Assistant #1........ Cute Baby]]
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| [[Image:Beast.jpg|left|thumb|Research Assistant #2........ Fierce Beast]]
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| ==Fun Stuff==
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| '''Sports'''
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| *[http://www.colts.com/ Indianapolis Colts] I love football!
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| *[http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=oak Oakland Athletics] I like baseball.
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| *[http://www.wccs.k12.in.us/cchs/athletics/boys/football/CC%20EAGLES%20FB/index.html Columbia City High School Football] My good friend is the varsity coach, this team is steadily improving and fun to follow.
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| *[http://www.eugenemarathon.com/ Eugene Marathon] I'm not a runner, but I enjoy running (I've run the half, not the full).
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| '''Music'''
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| *[http://wttsfm.com/ WTTS Fm 92.3] From Dylan to Marley to Dave, they play great music.
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| *[http://www.carbonleaf.com/ Carbon Leaf] Great band everyone should check out!
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| *[http://www.matkearney.com/ Mat Kearney] Excellent musician and great performer!
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| *I've been known to listen to some [http://www.georgestrait.com/ George Strait] every now and then too.
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| '''Movies'''
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| *[http://www.starwarsuncut.com/ Star Wars Uncut] I'm a Star Wars nerd.
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| '''Food'''
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| I like cheeseburgers, burritos, and subs more than anyone really should. Here are a few of my favorites:
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| *[http://www.eugenecatering.com/ Cornucopia]- Best burgers in Eugene, OR!
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| *[http://www.opietaylors.com/welcome.html Opie Taylor's]- Best burgers in Bloomington, IN!
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| * Laughing Planet Cafe - Great burritos in [http://www.laughingplanetcafe.com/ Eugene] and [http://thelaughingplanetcafe.com/ Bloomington]!
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| * [http://www.dagwoodsandwiches.com/ Dagwood's]- Awesome subs in B-Town! I highly recommend the Dagwood Supreme.
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