Please Join us for a seminar from
Dr. Robert Unckless, University of Kansas
“How conflict within and between genomes maintains genetic variation”
Dr. Unckless’ research program focuses on conflict both within the genome and between host and pathogen. Much of his work utilizes the innate immune system in Drosophila and the delicate balance which must be struck between an immune system strong enough to ward off pathogenic microbes, but not so strong that it disrupts beneficial microbes or causes autoimmune damage. He studies factors that maintain genetic diversity in the antimicrobial peptides (a tradeoff between innate immune defense against systemic infection and the maintenance of a healthy gut microbiota), the importance of pathogen pressure in driving evolution of the immune system, and the genetic causes and consequences of conflict with the genome (focusing on meiotic drive). At KU, he has worked with plant evolutionary biologists, bacteriologist, developmental biologists, biochemists, anthropologists, engineers, and quantitative geneticists to approach these and other problems.
Faculty host: Sharon Amacher (amacher.6@osu.edu)
