|
Professor
Email: wyngaaga@jmu.edu Phone:
540-568-6668 Mailing Address James Madison University |
My laboratory, in collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Ellen M. Rasch at James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, is studying how genomic reorganization is changing how we think about evolutionary processes. Specifically, we are examining how genomes respond to DNA loss and massive intragenomic reorganizations and whether the highly repeated DNA sequences found in many organisms are functional or "junk" DNA. The genome sizes of copepods vary widely according to species (0.5 — 30 pg). The diminution of DNA during development may be a mechanism for controlling genome size. Planktonic crustaceans (copepods) excise major portions (35 — 95%) of their chromosomes during early development in a highly precise and regulated manner. This phenomenon is called chromatin diminution.
Courses taught:
Introduction to Biometrics Bio 454/554
Dr.
Grace Wyngaard