Gabriela Wlasiuk
CONTACT INFORMATION
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Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology
333 Biosciences West
1041 E. Lowell
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
Tel: (520) 626-4747
FAX: (520) 621-9190
E-mail: wlasiuk@email.arizona.edu
RESEARCH
INTERESTS
Traits involved in reproduction and immunity are often extremely polymorphic, raising the question of how that variation is generated and maintained, and whether it has an adaptive significance. My dissertation research focuses on the molecular evolution of reproductive and innate immunity genes in primates. I am particularly interested in testing whether mating system influences the evolution of these two classes of genes.
I am also interested in the link between ecologically important traits and the genes underlying those phenotypes. Currently, I am investigating the genetic basis of adaptive coat color variation in natural populations of the rock pocket mouse and the Botta’s pocket gopher, using candidate pigmentation genes.Wlasiuk, G., Khan, S., Switzer, W.M. & Nachman, M.W. 2009. A history of adaptive evolution at the Toll-like receptor 5 in primates. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 26: 937-949.
Worobey, M., Pitchenik, A.E., Gilbert, M.T., Wlasiuk, G. & Rambaut, A. 2008. Reply to Pape et al.: The phylogeography of HIV-1 group M subtype B. Proceedings of the National academy of Sciences. 105: E16.
Gilbert, M.T.P., Rambaut, A., Wlasiuk, G., Spira, T.J., Pitchenik, A.E. & Worobey, M. 2007. The emergence of HIV/AIDS in the Americas and beyond. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104:18566-70.
Wlasiuk,
G. & Nachman, M.W., 2007. The genetics of adaptive coat
color in gophers: Coding variation at Mc1r is not responsible
for dorsal color differences. Journal of Heredity, 98(6): 567-574.
Lessa, E.P., Wlasiuk, G. & Garza, J.C.. 2005. Dynamics of genetic
differentiation in the Río Negro Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys rionegrensis) at the local
and geographical levels. Pp.155-175, In "Mammalian Diversification: from chromosomes
to phylogeography" (Lacey E and Myers P eds.). University of California Publications
in Zoology, Vol. 133. University of California Press. Link
Wlasiuk,
G., Garza, C., & Lessa, E.P. 2003. Genetic geographic
differentiation in the Rio Negro tuco-tuco (Ctenomys
rionegrensis): distinguishing historical and contemporary levels
of gene flow. Evolution, 57: 913-926.
Tomasco,
I, Wlasiuk,
G. & Lessa,
E.P. 2002. Evaluation of polymorphism in ten microsatellite loci
in Uruguayan sheep flocks. Genetics and Molecular Biology, 25: 34-37.
García
G., Wlasiuk
G. & Lessa, E.P. 2000. High levels of mitochondrial cytochrome
b divergence and phylogenetic relationships in the annual killifishes
of the genus Cynolebias (Cyprinodontifomes, Rivulidae). Zoological
Journal of the Linnean Society, 129: 93-110.
2005. Wlasiuk, G. and Nachman, W.M. Mc1r is not responsible for coar color variation in pocket gophers. Evolution Meetings, Alaska, USA.
2004. Wlasiuk, G., & Nachman M.W. The agouti locus and coat color variation in the rock pocket mice, Chaetodipus intermedius. Genomes and Evolution, Pennsylvania, USA.
2002. Wlasiuk, G. A genetic approach to improve reproductive rates in Uruguayan sheep flocks: benefits of prolificacy genes. X Jornadas de la Sociedad Uruguaya de Biociencias, Solís, Uruguay.
2001. Wlasiuk, G., Lessa, E.P., Azzarini, M., & Fernández-Abella, D. The diagnosis of the Booroola mutation in Uruguayan sheep flocks. VI Jornadas de Zoología del Uruguay.
2001. Wlasiuk, G., Tassino, B. & Lessa, E.P. Patterns of intrapopulation subdivision in Ctenomys rionegrensis (Rodentia Octodontidae). XVI Jornadas Argentinas de Mastozoología, Mendoza, Argentina.
2000. Wlasiuk, G, Lessa, E.P. & Garza, J.C. Microsatellite analysis of geographic genetic structure in the Rio Negro tuco-tuco (Ctenomys rionegrensis). Evolution Meetings, Indiana, USA.
2000. Hoffmann, F., Tomasco, I., Wlasiuk, G., Lessa E.P. & Cook J.A. Accelerated Rates of Replacement substitutions in the cytochrome b gene of subterranean South American Octodontid Rodents. Mammalogy meetings, Durham, USA.
2000. Wlasiuk, G. & Lessa, E.P. The Ctenomys rionegrensis case: multiple evidence of a recent range expansion. XV Jornadas Argentinas de Mastozoología, La Plata, Argentina.
1998. Wlasiuk, G., Lafón L., Armstrong, E., Lessa, E.P. & Cortinas, M.N. Subdivision at the intrapopulation level of the tuco-tuco Ctenomys rionegrensis: analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b and coat color. XIII Jornadas Argentinas de Mastozoología. Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina.
1997. García G., Wlasiuk, G. & Lessa, E.P. High levels
of mitochondrial cytochrome B divergence and phylogenetic relationships
in the annual killifishes of the genus Cynolebias Steindachner 1876
(Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae). International Symposium on Phylogeny
and Classification of neotropical fishes. Porto Alegre -RS- Brasil.
2005. Galileo Circle Scholarship, College of Science, University of Arizona.
2005. University of Arizona Foundation Award for Meritorious Performance in Teaching.
2001. Summer Institute in Statistical genetics (travel scholarship). North Carolina State University, NC, USA.
2003-2004. Goodwill Ambassadorial Scholar (awarded by The Rotary Foundation).
2005 Evolutionary Biology (ECOL335). University of Arizona.
2005 Genetics Lab (ECOL301). University of Arizona.
2004 Animal Behavior (ECOL487/587). University of Arizona.
1999-2002 Evolution. Universidad
de la Republica, Uruguay.
PhD candidate. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona. Expected graduation: 2008.
Master in Sciences (Biotechnology). School of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. August 2001.
Bachelor in Sciences (Biochemistry). School of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. November 1998.