Taichi Suzuki
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: taichis@email.arizona.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in the way phenotypic and genotypic variation is generated and maintained by evolutionary forces, with a particular interest in the genetic basis of speciation.
My undergraduate research focused on the coat color variation of Japanese wild house mice (Mus musculus molossinus) with Dr. Masahiro Iwasa at Nihon University. To reconfirm and characterize the Japanese wild mice genetically and morphologically, I analyzed the coat color and skull characteristics. The result of my analysis suggests that in addition to the traditional coat color gene (Aw), there are other loci related to the coat color phenotype of Japanese wild house mice.
My Master’s thesis research focused on speciation and hybrid female fertility in two subspecies of house mice. The question is to examine whether there is hybrid female sterility between crosses of M. m. domesticus and M. m. musculus, and, eventually, to understand the genetic basis of reproductive isolation from both male and female perspectives. I carried out a large cross experiment, tested F1 hybrid female fertility, and analyzed female reproductive traits mainly using histological techniques. I found that there is reduced fertility in hybrid females for at least some genotypes, suggesting that fitness reduction in hybrid females may play a role in the evolution of postzygotic isolation in house mice. The importance of female sterility relative to other isolating mechanisms (e.g. male sterility) will make a large contribution to the field of speciation and to some rules in biology, Haldane’s rule for example.
PUBLICATIONS
Suzuki, T.A. and M. A.
Iwasa, 2011. A traditional genetic analysis about coat color variations
and morphological characteristics of Japanese wild mouse, Mus musculus.
Genes and Genetic Systems,
in revision.
Suzuki, T.A. and M.W. Nachman, 2011. Speciation and hybrid female fertility in house mice. Evolution, in preparation.
PRESENTATIONS
Suzuki, T.A. and M.W. Nachman, 2011. Speciation and hybrid female subfertility in house mice. Society for the Study of Evolution, Norman, Oklahoma. (talk)
Suzuki, T.A. and M.W. Nachman, 2010. Speciation and hybrid female fertility in house mice. Society for the Study of Evolution, Portland, Oregon. (poster)
Suzuki, T.A. and M.A. Iwasa, 2008. Coat color variations of wild mouse in an urban area. The Mammalogical Society of Japan, Yamaguti, Japan. (poster)
HONORS/AWARDS
2010-2011 President of Japanese Association at The University of Arizona
2009 Master of Ceremonies at CESL (Center of
English as a Second Language)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
- 2011 Teaching Assistant, Mammalogy (ECOL 485/585), The University of Arizona
2011 Teaching Assistant, Human Genetics (ECOL 223), The University of Arizona
2011 Guest lectured at Hermosa Montessori Elementary School, Tucson, Arizona
2008 Part-time, Curator assistant, Kanagawa Museum, Japan
2006 Animal volunteer activities, Oakvale Farm, Australia
EDUCATION
2011-Present Ph.D. student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona
2011 Master of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona
2009 Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Resources, Nihon University, Japan