Michael McDonald

Investigating the genetic changes that underlie evolution and the factors determining the path that evolution takes.

Although natural selection the drives adaptive evolution, its capacity is limited by the supply of phenotypic variation. My work focusses on the genetic architecture underlying the evolution of wrinkly spreader (WS) genotypes: I have determined the full spectrum of single step mutational routes to WS and armed with this knowledge I have performed extensive and intensive analyses of the spectrum of 'WS mutations', their temporal distribution -- and fitness effects -- in evolving populations.

I have also become interested the capacity of selection to act at higher levels of biological organization, particularly at the level of ecosystems. Interestingly, from these experiments I have witnessed the de novo evolution of a division of labour.

I am currently writing my thesis and beginning to consider post doctoral opportunities.