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Evolutionary
Developmental
Genomics

Our group is interested in understanding the interplay between a cell's developmental history, function, and its flexibility to change. We are working to define principles of vertebrate evolution and adaptation by applying high-throughput single-cell genomics, lineage tracing, and developmental genetics in zebrafish and medaka. 

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INDIVIDUAL-RESOLVED
SINGLE-CELL GENOMICS

How do specific cell types respond to genetic and environmental changes?

We are using scalable, high-throughput single cell genomics methods to study developmental mechanisms embryo-wide. By barcoding hundreds of individual fish, we can quantify cell type abundance changes in addition to gene expression, enabling a new view of how animals develop in response to genetic and environmental perturbations.

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CELL LINEAGE CONVERGENCE

How does the developmental history of a cell shape its future fate?

Every cell in an organism has reached that point through a series of cell divisions, constituting a lineage history. In vertebrate embryos, there are numerous instances where two lineages converge on a common cell or tissue type. We will couple lineage tracing with single-cell genomics to investigate this phenomenon organism-wide. 

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MORPHOLOGICAL
EVOLUTION

How do neural crest regulatory networks change over evolution?

We use zebrafish and medaka as model systems to explore developmental plasticity and genetic variation that contribute to morphological change over development and generational time. We use and develop genome editing tools to couple with imaging and sequencing to explore how individual cell lineages shape evolvability. 

Lab News

The Saunders Lab opens its doors!

In January 2024, the Saunders lab opens at the Center for Organismal Studies (or COS for short). We're ordering essentials, breeding fish, cloning and planning. We look forward to welcoming new group members in the coming months!

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