Bonett Lab

Department of Biological Science, University of Tulsa

Our research focuses on understanding the influence of ecology and life cycle mode on the development and evolution of animals form and function. We use phylogenomics and comparative methods to analyze these patterns across salamanders (and sometimes other animals). The timing of amphibian development appears to be largely governed by the endocrine system, therefore we also conduct experiments to test how hormones regulate patterns of gene expression and development. We emphasize a comparative approach by analyzing patterns among populations and species to understand how the evolution of endocrine mechanisms has shaped developmental variation in nature.