Wayne Potts Laboratory

WHAT EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXTREME GENETIC DIVERSITY OF HISTOCOMPATIBILITY (MHC) GENES?

To answer this question our laboratory utilizes interdisciplinary approaches involving immunology, host-parasite coevolution, behavior, sexual selection and kin selection. Our unique approach includes examining animal behavior and evaluating fitness in seminatural conditions, a methodology that has proven to be a sensitive assay for exploring cryptic phenotypes. The sensitive nature of our assays has lead us to begin to explore the use of our technology to screen substances, including some commonly found in our environment or diet, for adverse effects on mammalian health and vigor.