The Cheverud Lab

My research centers on evolutionary quantitative genetics and morphology. The research in quantitative genetics concerns the development and genetic constraints imposed on the rate and direction of evolution by heritable variation patterns and the evolution of genetic variation patterns themselves. Current and planned future projects in this area involve both empirical and theoretical studies of the evolution of genetic correlations, maternal effects and kin selection, the genetics of somatic growth, the inheritance of brain surface morphology, and the heritability, genetic correlation and evolution of primate craniofacial morphology. We are currently studying the morphological genetics and systematics of New World Monkey species, specifically tamarins and marmosets. This study involves the reconstruction of selection acting on craniofacial morphology. The tamarins and marmosets include several endangered species and we are developing a quantitative genetic approach to captive population genetic surveys and management.

The Jim Cheverud Lab is happy to welcome Dr. Heather Lawson. With a remarkable background in Anthropology, Dr. Lawson will work on a Post-Doctoral Fellowship with the Lab pursuing interests in evolutionary development of complex traits (particularly the human skull), population genetics, molecular evolution, and comparative genomics.

We began the construction of new Lg/J x Sm/J inbred lines in April 2007 using 63 of the randomly bred families from the F34 generation of the Advanced Intercross Line (AIL). Initially there were 63 genetically distinct strains, and for 33 of these strains, two sets of siblings were separated in the P0 generation to act as additional strains, albeit genetically similar to their AIL sibling strains. Our mating experience has demonstrated that bad parenting behavior is associated at least partially with the Agouti locus on chromosome 2. Since coat color cannot be used to determine allele state in the Lg/J and Sm/J strains, we must genotype the mice to determine their status. All animals were genotyped in the F1 for three microsatellite loci (D2Mit22, D2Mit286, D2Mit409) surrounding the Agouti locus, and we selected for animals with large alleles on a minimum of two, but preferably all three of the loci to breed in the F1 generation.

At present (7/08), almost 6,000 mice have been born for this experiment and the majority of strains are in the F5 or F6 generations. We have lost 7 strains completely (11.1% of the original genetically distinct strains), as well as 8 of the sib strains (8.1% of all strains), so that their genetically similar sib strain remains alive. We are maintaining 3 or 4 breeding pairs per strain and generation, and all breeding animals that contribute pups used as parents in the next generation are given a standard necropsy at death. Many of the strains are now fixed for the loci surrounding the Agouti locus and no longer require genotyping each generation. Forty-eight of the strains required genotyping during the F2 generation; this dropped to 34 in the F3 generation, 20 in the F4, and 6 in the F5. In the near future, we will check the genotypes of each strain to ensure that these loci remain fixed. More Information