A current issue of some dispute in evolutionary genetics is whether certain types of genetic change contribute disproportionately to phenotypic evolution.  It has been argued, for example, that most morphological evolution is due to changes in cis-regulatory sequences, while changes in protein coding sequences contribute disproportionately to physiological evolution.

      We are addressing this issue by focusing on parallel phenotypic change in flower color.  In addition, we are initiating a project, in collaboration with Lena Hileman at the University of Kansas, on identifying genetic changes associated with parallel morphological changes in Penstemon.  For more information on this topic, see the following publications:

Streisfeld, M. A., and M. D. Rausher.  2011. Population genetics, pleiotropy, and the preferential fixation of mutations during adaptive evolution. Evolution 65: 629-642.   [Download PDF file]

Smith, S. D., S. Wang, and M. D. Rausher.  2013.  Functional evolution of an anthocyanin pathway enzyme     during a flower color transition.  Molecular Biology and Evolution 30: 602-612.  [Download PDF File]