Bridgett VonHoldt, Princeton University
Assistant Professor
Princeton, New Jersey
vonholdt@princeton.edu
Office:
(609) 258-7021
Expert In
Bio/Research
My research interests go beyond the scope of studying DNA variants and include other dimensions of the genome. The convergence of genome technologies and natural history hypotheses sets the stage for exploring traditional questions of behavioral ecology, population biology, and evolutionary histo...
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Bio/Research
My research interests go beyond the scope of studying DNA variants and include other dimensions of the genome. The convergence of genome technologies and natural history hypotheses sets the stage for exploring traditional questions of behavioral ecology, population biology, and evolutionary history at multiple genomic levels. My research goal is to unravel genotype-phenotype evolution in both a naturally and artificially evolving species. I am specifically interested in the interaction of natural history phenotypes (e.g. social status, pigmentation, disease, fecundity, mating strategy) and gene expression changes and their regulation via epigenetic variation. Chromatin modification, differential methylation, microRNAs, and transcription factor binding can all have a profound effect on gene expression, initiating/silencing transcription, the degree of transcript stability, and splicing. However, epigenomic variation currently remains a largely unexplored area of evolutionary and population dynamics. As such, comparative genomic studies of wild and domesticated species provide the opportunity to integrate DNA-based variants and epigenetic modifications, as well as their potential effects on phenotype diversity. Tracking the inheritance of said variants as well as their evolutionary relationships will provide substantial advances towards understanding phenotype evolution.
My research focus also has an applied perspective as I continue to explore the genomics of the Yellowstone wolf population in collaboration with UCLA and the Yellowstone Wolf Project (National Park Service). Using applied population genomic techniques, this research continues to explore genomic consequences of inbreeding, selection, and disease on this recovering population and conduct pedigree-based studies. Combined with highly detailed and extensive observational data and a great team of National Park wolf biologists, this population is a truly amazing system in which to explore how population ecology impacts genetics.
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My research focus also has an applied perspective as I continue to explore the genomics of the Yellowstone wolf population in collaboration with UCLA and the Yellowstone Wolf Project (National Park Service). Using applied population genomic techniques, this research continues to explore genomic consequences of inbreeding, selection, and disease on this recovering population and conduct pedigree-based studies. Combined with highly detailed and extensive observational data and a great team of National Park wolf biologists, this population is a truly amazing system in which to explore how population ecology impacts genetics.
Click to Shrink <<