Research
Genetic co-option and molecular evolution: Genetic co-option is the tailoring of existing genetic systems to new uses. We have done some work on the role of positive Darwinian selection following genetic co-option in protein coding genes, mostly within the context of gene duplication. However, our current interest is with the co-option from the standpoint of functional sub-systems within a biological system. We are applying this to both higher-order systems such as cellular metabolism, as well as to individual proteins.
Modeling codon and amino acid evolution: This work involves extension and development of codon and protein models. One area of interest is developing realistic ways to model the effect of physiochemical properties on substitution probabilities among codons and amino acids. Empirical surveys are used to guide model development.
Comparative genomics of closely related prokaryotes: This area of research takes advantage of the increased power that the growing number of closely-related prokaryotic genomes can provide. Phylogenomic methods are used to (1) investigate the basis of adaptive diversification in a genomic context; (2) provide additional insights into the evolution of pathogenicity; and (3) to provide practical benefits such as aiding vaccine development.
Facilities
We are located in rooms 7026, 7056 and 7058 in the Life Sciences Center (LSC). Students working in these rooms have access to a Pentium workstation and a dual Xeon workstation, both running Linux. In addition, we have a 10 node (2.4Ghz processors) cluster computer in this location, also running Linux. Members of the group also have access to a 14-node cluster computer located in the machine room of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics (Chase Building) which was funded by a grant from the Atlantic Genome Center of the Genome Canada program, and an 80 core-CPU cluster funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
Graduate students in the group who are enrolled in the Department of Biology are supplied with a desktop computer with the OS of their choice and are given space in the LSC. Students in the group who are enrolled in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics are assigned space and computer resources through that department, but may elect to obtain space in the LSC if they wish.
Funding
Start-up funding was supplied in 2003 by Dalhousie University Faculty of Science and by a grant from the Genome Atlantic Centre of Genome Canada.
The group has obtained an NSERC operating grant for the period of 2004 to 2008, to work on a project entitled: "Microbial Adaptive Evolution: A Phylogenomic Approach".
The group is part of a successful NSERC equipment grant (2004) to fund an upgrade to the computer resources of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics.
The group has obtained a Canada Foundation for Innovation (2006) grant entitled: "A high performance computer cluster for phylogenomic analysis of microbial genomes"
Additional grants supporting individual salaries have been obtained from the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation (2006) and CFI Institutional Operating Fund (2006).
How to Find Us
Life Science Center (LSC)
Room 7056,
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada
For directions, maps and parking info.
For a campus map (the Life Sciences Centre, LSC, is on the Studley campus; we are located in the Biology wing of the LSC)