Megan A. Barela Hudgell
Ph.D. (2022) Biological Sciences
Bringing Together Immunology, Ecology, and Evolution
Gene Diversification and Large Gene Families
Genes diversification happens through a variety mechanisms, which in turn lead to the generation of large, clustered gene families. Genes within the Immune system tend to be comprised of gene families. I am interested in identifying and understanding the processes that generate these gene families.
Ecology and Evolution
The immune system is often considered key for the survival of organisms within an environment, not just as individuals, but as a population. I am interested in studying the intersection of ecology, evolution, and immunology to understand how the evolution of the immune system was potentially driven by and maintained by the ecology in which the organism is found