Fred Janzen
Dr. Janzen's research integrates molecular and quantitative genetic techniques into experimental laboratory and field studies. His laboratory focuses on the effects of genetic and environmental factors in mediating the expression of physiological, behavioral, and life-history traits.
One major aspect of this research is dedicated to addressing a fundamental problem in biology: the ecology and evolution of diverse sex-determining mechanisms. Other main research foci involve assessing (1) the relative impact of environmental and genetic factors on variation in early life-history traits and the resulting evolution of adaptive physiological traits and (2) the current and historical genetic and demographic structure of populations, with an emphasis on elucidating adaptive processes and solving conservation concerns.
Although not mandatory, many of these research projects involve reptiles, particularly turtles, as the experimental organisms of choice. These studies, integrating a variety of conceptual approaches, should provide unique insight into the functional, ecological, and evolutionary significance of key traits in natural populations.
One major aspect of this research is dedicated to addressing a fundamental problem in biology: the ecology and evolution of diverse sex-determining mechanisms. Other main research foci involve assessing (1) the relative impact of environmental and genetic factors on variation in early life-history traits and the resulting evolution of adaptive physiological traits and (2) the current and historical genetic and demographic structure of populations, with an emphasis on elucidating adaptive processes and solving conservation concerns.
Although not mandatory, many of these research projects involve reptiles, particularly turtles, as the experimental organisms of choice. These studies, integrating a variety of conceptual approaches, should provide unique insight into the functional, ecological, and evolutionary significance of key traits in natural populations.