Mailing Address:
University of California, Berkeley
Dept. of Integrative Biology
3060 VLSB #3140
Berkeley, CA 94720-3140
Lab phone: 510/643-6227
Fax: 510/643-5022
Email: mprotas@uclink.berkeley.edu
University of California, Berkeley
Dept. of Integrative Biology
3060 VLSB #3140
Berkeley, CA 94720-3140
Lab phone: 510/643-6227
Fax: 510/643-5022
Email: mprotas@uclink.berkeley.edu
Research Summary
Determining how morphological differences arise is a subject of great importance in evolutionary biology, but one that has been very difficult to address experimentally. However, with the recent advent of the field of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), it is now becoming feasible to bring new and interesting species into the lab to address questons at the molecular and genetic level.
Most evo-devo studies either focus on macroevolution or microevolution. Macroevolutionary studies allow us to look at species that have been separated for large amounts of time and that have extreme morphological differences. Microevolutionary studies, however, look at species that have intraspecific morphological variation, and have been very valuable in discovering genetic changes causing morphological change because the time difference separating the populations in question is relatively short. However, the extent to which microevolutionary changes tell us about the mechanisms of macroevolutionary change is still debated. Does the path of microevolutionary change represent just a shorter time scale of the path that creates macroevolutionary changes on a larger time scale? To really understand this problem, we need to address the seemingly impossible goal of looking at the genetics of morphological evolution in species separated by great time differences.
One way of bridging the gap between evolution on a short time scale and evolution on a longer time scale is to look at a morphology that shows great diversity both within species and between species. Such a structure is the antenna in insects and crustaceans. Advantages of studying antennal development in crustaceans include: the vast amount of morphological diversity in this group, the molecular and genetic methods that have been generated for some specific crustacean species, and the fact that one can look at antennal variation across different timescales of evolution.
Specifically, I am studying antennal development in the amphipod crustacean, Parhyale hawaiensis. In Parhyale hawaiensis, many molecular and genetic tools have been generated. I am examining the expression and function of genes in P. hawaiensis that are known to be involved in antennal and tarsal development in D. melanogaster and seeing whether any changes in the expression or function of these genes can explain morphological differences between insect and crustacean antennae. Also, I am examining antennal development and other characteristics on a microevolutionary scale, using molecular and genetic methods, in the freshwater amphipod, Gammarus minus, which has cave and surface dwelling populations differing in antennal size, eye size, and pigmentation. In this manner, I will be able to see whether similar or different molecular mechanisms cause comparable morphological changes in antennal development across different timescales.
Publications
Protas M., Tabansky I., Conrad M., Gross J. B., Vidal O., Tabin C. J., Borowsky R. (2008). Multi-trait evolution in a cave fish, Astyanax mexicanus. Evol Dev 10(2):196-209.
Protas, M., Conrad, M., Gross, J. B., Tabin, C., Borowsky, (2007). Regressive evolution in the Mexican cave tetra, Astyanax mexicanus. Current Biology 17(5)452-454.
Protas, M.E., Hersey, C., Kochanek D., Zhou, Y., Wilkens, H., Jeffery,
W.R., Zon, L.I., Borowsky, R., Tabin, C.J. (2006). Genetic analysis of
cavefish reveals molecular convergence in the evolution of albinism.
Nature Genetics 38(1):107-11.
Abzhanov, A., Protas, M., Grant, B.R., Grant, P.R., Tabin, C.J. Bmp4 and
morphological variation of beaks in Darwin's finches. (2004). Science
305(5689):1462-5.
Protas, M.E., Tabin, C.J. (2004).
Reduce your pelvis in 10000 years or less. Developmental Cell 6(5):613-4.
Review.
Pearson, A.M., Baksa, K., Ramet, M., Protas, M., McKee, M., Brown, D.,
Ezekowitz R.A. (2003). Identification of cytoskeletal regulatory proteins
required for efficient phagocytosis in Drosophila. Microbes and Infection
5(10):815-24.
Education
Ph.D. in Genetics
Harvard University
Department of Genetics
Clifford J. Tabin, advisor
September 1999 - November 2005
B. A. in Biology
Pomona College
Daniel Martinez, advisor
September 1994 - June1999
Additional Research Experience
Postdoctoral researcher
UC Berkeley
Nipam H. Patel, advisor
January 2006 - present
Funding
March 2007 to present NRSA fellowship
Determining how morphological differences arise is a subject of great importance in evolutionary biology, but one that has been very difficult to address experimentally. However, with the recent advent of the field of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), it is now becoming feasible to bring new and interesting species into the lab to address questons at the molecular and genetic level.
Most evo-devo studies either focus on macroevolution or microevolution. Macroevolutionary studies allow us to look at species that have been separated for large amounts of time and that have extreme morphological differences. Microevolutionary studies, however, look at species that have intraspecific morphological variation, and have been very valuable in discovering genetic changes causing morphological change because the time difference separating the populations in question is relatively short. However, the extent to which microevolutionary changes tell us about the mechanisms of macroevolutionary change is still debated. Does the path of microevolutionary change represent just a shorter time scale of the path that creates macroevolutionary changes on a larger time scale? To really understand this problem, we need to address the seemingly impossible goal of looking at the genetics of morphological evolution in species separated by great time differences.
One way of bridging the gap between evolution on a short time scale and evolution on a longer time scale is to look at a morphology that shows great diversity both within species and between species. Such a structure is the antenna in insects and crustaceans. Advantages of studying antennal development in crustaceans include: the vast amount of morphological diversity in this group, the molecular and genetic methods that have been generated for some specific crustacean species, and the fact that one can look at antennal variation across different timescales of evolution.
Specifically, I am studying antennal development in the amphipod crustacean, Parhyale hawaiensis. In Parhyale hawaiensis, many molecular and genetic tools have been generated. I am examining the expression and function of genes in P. hawaiensis that are known to be involved in antennal and tarsal development in D. melanogaster and seeing whether any changes in the expression or function of these genes can explain morphological differences between insect and crustacean antennae. Also, I am examining antennal development and other characteristics on a microevolutionary scale, using molecular and genetic methods, in the freshwater amphipod, Gammarus minus, which has cave and surface dwelling populations differing in antennal size, eye size, and pigmentation. In this manner, I will be able to see whether similar or different molecular mechanisms cause comparable morphological changes in antennal development across different timescales.
Publications
Protas M., Tabansky I., Conrad M., Gross J. B., Vidal O., Tabin C. J., Borowsky R. (2008). Multi-trait evolution in a cave fish, Astyanax mexicanus. Evol Dev 10(2):196-209.
Protas, M., Conrad, M., Gross, J. B., Tabin, C., Borowsky, (2007). Regressive evolution in the Mexican cave tetra, Astyanax mexicanus. Current Biology 17(5)452-454.
Protas, M.E., Hersey, C., Kochanek D., Zhou, Y., Wilkens, H., Jeffery,
W.R., Zon, L.I., Borowsky, R., Tabin, C.J. (2006). Genetic analysis of
cavefish reveals molecular convergence in the evolution of albinism.
Nature Genetics 38(1):107-11.
Abzhanov, A., Protas, M., Grant, B.R., Grant, P.R., Tabin, C.J. Bmp4 and
morphological variation of beaks in Darwin's finches. (2004). Science
305(5689):1462-5.
Protas, M.E., Tabin, C.J. (2004).
Reduce your pelvis in 10000 years or less. Developmental Cell 6(5):613-4.
Review.
Pearson, A.M., Baksa, K., Ramet, M., Protas, M., McKee, M., Brown, D.,
Ezekowitz R.A. (2003). Identification of cytoskeletal regulatory proteins
required for efficient phagocytosis in Drosophila. Microbes and Infection
5(10):815-24.
Education
Ph.D. in Genetics
Harvard University
Department of Genetics
Clifford J. Tabin, advisor
September 1999 - November 2005
B. A. in Biology
Pomona College
Daniel Martinez, advisor
September 1994 - June1999
Additional Research Experience
Postdoctoral researcher
UC Berkeley
Nipam H. Patel, advisor
January 2006 - present
Funding
March 2007 to present NRSA fellowship
NIPAM H. PATEL
Above:
This is a picture of the Slovenian isopod Asellus aquaticus. This individual is from a cave dwelling population and is characterized by lack of pigment and eyes.
This is a picture of the Slovenian isopod Asellus aquaticus. This individual is from a cave dwelling population and is characterized by lack of pigment and eyes.
Above:
This is a surface individual of the species Asellus aquaticus (the pigmented and eyed form.
This is a surface individual of the species Asellus aquaticus (the pigmented and eyed form.
TO LEFT:
This is an situ for the gene bric-a-brac in Parhyale.
This is an situ for the gene bric-a-brac in Parhyale.