Evolutionary Biology Research
At UC evolutionary biology research underpins all of the biological sciences, from animal behaviour to ecology, biodiversity, systematics to molecular biology.
From sexual selection to the spread of disease and the conservation of rare species, evolutionary biology helps understand both the fundamental and applied aspects of biology.
Examples of research include:
- The role of sexual reproduction in the evolution of a facultative
apomict, Hieracium pilosella. - Obligate apomixis is no deterrent to evolution in the invasive weed
Hieracium lepidulum. - Evolution at the level of local populations and applying this knowledge to conservation issues.
- The evolutionary benefits of masting, modelling the resource dynamics within plants that create masting.
- Evolutionary transition from RNA to proteins & DNA.
- The taxonomy, phylogeny, and diversification of tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae): why are there so many Senecio species?
As evolutionary biology is applied across the biological sciences further examples can be found in the other research areas such as cell biology, ecology and microbiology.
Research Staff
 |
Dr Hazel Chapman |
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Dr Pieter Pelser Plant Systematics and Director UC Herbarium |
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Dr Marie Hale Population and Conservation Genetics |
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Dr Anthony Poole Molecular Evolution, evolutionary and comparative genetics/genomics. |
| Prof Jack Heinemann Genetics Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety (INBI) |
Course Advice
- Studying Evolutionary Biology at undergraduate level.
- Postgraduate projects in Ecology, Environmental Science, Plant Biology or Zoology.