POPULATION GENOMICS AND EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL TRAITS
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Supergenes—clusters of linked genes with suppressed recombination—have intrigued evolutionary biologists due to their pivotal role in controlling complex phenotypic adaptations across eukaryotic organisms. While sex chromosomes are the most prominent example, recent research has highlighted numerous autosomal supergenes influencing traits such as mating systems, migratory behavior, and social organization. Our team focuses on ants, where "social" supergenes have independently evolved to regulate colony queen number across various groups. Recently, we have discovered a new supergene associated with queen-size dimorphism and potentially linked to intraspecific social parasitism. By employing genetic, genomic, morphometric techniques, and field observations, our team seeks to enhance the understanding of supergenes and investigate their structure and function in several ant species. A key question we aim to address is whether supergenes have driven the evolution of social parasitism.
