One of the most important advantages complex organisms possess is the ability to change their physiology in response to the environment. The regulation and expression of genes through epigenetic mechanisms is integral to this adaptive physiology. Epigenetic modifications, such as the methylation of DNA, represent fundamentally important ways in which organisms regulate gene expression without associated changes to the genome. This research program focuses on understanding the function of DNA methylation through the study of social insects. Social insects display some of the most striking forms of adaptive physiology, wherein multiple morphological forms (castes) display division of labor. The research team will study the prevalence, variation, and importance of DNA methylation to the regulation of gene expression by exploring DNA methylation throughout the genome of different castes of the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. The relationship between DNA methylation and gene function will be explored through the examination of termite gene expression patterns, and their relationship to observed levels of DNA methylation among different castes. The research will also lead to a greater understanding of how DNA methylation affects gene splicing.
The research will advance our understanding of epigenetic mechanisms, which play important roles in development and disease in many organisms. The proposed studies will also shed light on the basic biology of termites, which represent agricultural and commercial pests. Finally, the research program will be integrated into a novel on-campus, undergraduate education plan involving the keeping and studying of honey bees in an urban environment.
