Genetics of Complex Traits

Understanding the genetic basis of complex traits is a central challenge in contemporary biology. Research in this area aims to combine the latest genomics technologies with sophisticated statistical models to better understand how genomic variation leads to the phenotypic diversity observed in natural populations. Faculty performing research in this area address a wide variety of problems. These include the nature of complex disease traits in contemporary human populations; the genetic basis of pathogen virulence and toxin resistance; the structure, replication, and segregation of chromosomes; and processes contributing to adaptation and reproductive isolation in Drosophila.