Condon, C. (BMEB) – Genomic conflict across scales

Genomes are often viewed as cooperative systems in which genes work together to support organismal function. Yet genetic elements can also act in ways that favor their own transmission or persistence, creating conflict within the genome. In this talk, I examine the evolutionary and functional consequences of such genomic conflict across three systems. First, I investigate segregation distortion in Arabidopsis hybrids and its potential role in the early evolution of reproductive isolation. Second, I characterize the population dynamics and functional effects of introners, mobile elements that generate new introns in the green alga Micromonas pusilla. Finally, I explore widespread splicing dysfunction in algal mating-type chromosomes and its consequences for transcript diversity. Together, these studies highlight how departures from genome cooperation can shape inheritance, genome evolution, and gene regulation.

Event Host: Chris Condon, Ph.D. Candidate, Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics 

Advisor: Russell Corbett-Detig