Maile C. Neel, University of California, Riverside. The research is in the area of molecular evolutionary genetics and includes the study of the mechanisms of molecular genetic processes, and uses methods from molecular biology, statistics, computer science, molecular systematics, and population genetics. The basis for much of the research is comparative, across several levels of biological organization, and involves both computer-based and empirical studies. The major focus of research is using novel statistical methods to study relationships between genotype and phenotype. Current investigations in this area examine how gene sequence data can be used to understand and predict drug resistance in tuberculosis, variation in color vision, and basic immune system functions at the molecular level.
Drug resistance is a major problem in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Understanding evolution of drug resistance, and developing accurate methods for its prediction using DNA sequence data can help in assessing potential resistance in a more timely fashion and circumvent the need for culturing bacteria, which takes several weeks in the case of tuberculosis. More generally, the relationship of genotype to phenotype is a fundamental problem in genetics and through these investigations it is hoped that insight will be gained. Research on evolution of pathogenic bacteria also examines species within the genus Mycobacterium. We are using phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequence data to study the evolutionary patterns of pathogenicity within Mycobacterium to discern patterns in the emergence of new pathogens. The goal of this work is to understand the origins of new pathogens and provide information that may aid in diagnosis and treatment efforts.