Comparative Functional Genomics Lab - Dr. Andreas Heyland (PI)
Welcome to the Comparative Functional Genomics Laboratory at the University of Guelph led by Dr. Andreas Heyland (aheyland@uoguelph.ca). We are interested in understanding the evolution of complex developmental programs such as metamorphosis and neurogenesis. We focus primarily on molluscs and echinoderms combining experimental physiological and genomic approaches. Descriptions of other current research projects can be found here.
Our research program includes the following three projects:
1) Iodine metabolism and thyroid hormone signaling in marine ecosystems
2) Functional Genomics of Larval Development, Metamorphosis and Settlement in Aplysia californica
3) Identity of pro-neuronal genes in basal animals
Background Dr Andreas Heyland: A large part of my scientific career was dedicated to research on life history theory. I carried out my master's project at the marine biological laboratory in Banyuls sur Mer (France) from 1996-1998 investigating settlement behavior of two marine polychaete species using new real time in situ imaging techniques. During the following two years I was working in collaboration with Dr. Paul I. Ward and Dr. Wolf U. Blankenhorn at the University of Zurich on the quantitative genetics of life history trade-offs and sperm competition in the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria. I started my Ph.D work in the fall of 2000 with the late Dr. Larry McEdward at the University of Florida. I spent several summers at the Friday Harbor Laboratories (University of Washington) conducting independent research and/or teaching. My Ph.D project focused on the role of thyroid hormones (THs) in echinoderm larval development and metamorphosis and its implications for the evolution of alternative life history modes. I finished my Ph.D. in the spring 2004 and began my post-doctoral work with Dr. Leonid Moroz at the Whitney Laboratory (University of Florida).
You can download a current version of my CV
Recently Uploaded
New movie of sea urchin metamorphosis 4/26/10
Sea urchin metamorphosis (created by Andreas Heyland) 4/22/10