Matthew D. Dean
CONTACT
INFORMATION.
-
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: mattdean@email.arizona.edu
RESEARCH
INTERESTS
The
huge increase in DNA sequence data has revolutionized the field of
evolutionary biology. However, we remain ignorant
about functional consequences of most genetic variation, both
within and between species. This discrepancy exists because
phenotype data cannot be gathered in a manner comparable to
high throughput sequencing technology. As a result, we
lack a fundamental understanding of how most genetic variation
affects basic fitness of an organism.
My
research aims to close this gap by linking genotype and phenotype
in an evolutionary and ecological context. I
focus on sperm competition in house mice (Mus
domesticus), which arises when a single female
mates with multiple males during a single estrous cycle. My
work takes three complementary approaches. First,
I use bioinformatic techniques to identify interesting
candidate genes. Second,
I investigate genetic variation in such genes, in both
a population genetic and phylogenetic framework. Third,
I assay sperm competitive ability in live animals, using
in vitro fertilization assays I have developed. Ultimately,
I want to link genetic variation found in steps 1 and
2 to phenotypic variation found in step 3.
Dean, M. D., N. L. Clark, G. D. Findlay,
R. C. Karn, X. Yi, W. J. Swanson, M. J. MacCoss, and M. W. Nachman,
2009. Proteomics
and comparative genomic investigations reveal heterogeneity in
evolutionary rate of male reproductive proteins in mice (Mus domesticus). Molecular Biology
and Evolution 26(8): 1733-1743. 
Dean, M. D., and M. W. Nachman,
2009. Faster fertilization rate in conspecific versus heterospecific
matings in house mice. Evolution
63: 20-28.
Good, J. M., M.
D. Dean, and M. W.
Nachman, 2008. A complex genetic basis to X-linked hybrid
male sterility between two species of house mice. Genetics 179:
2213-2228.
Dean,
M. D.,
J. M. Good, and M. W. Nachman, 2008. Adaptive evolution
of proteins secreted during sperm maturation: an analysis of
the mouse epididymal transcriptome. Molecular
Biology and Evolution 25(2): 383-392.
Laurie, C. C, D. A. Nickerson, A. D. Anderson,
B. S. Weir, R. J. Livingston, M. D. Dean, K. L. Smith,
E. E. Schadt, and M. W. Nachman, 2007. Linkage disequilibrium in
wild mice. PLoS Genetics 3(8): e144.
Dean, M. D., Ardlie, K. G.,
and Nachman, M. W. 2006. The
frequency of multiple paternity suggests that sperm competition
is common in house mice Mus domesticus.
Molecular Ecology 15: 4141-4151.
Dean,
M. D. 2006. A Wolbachia-associated fitness benefit depends
on genetic background in Drosophila
simulans. Proceedings of the Royal Society of
London series B-Biological Sciences 273: 1415-1420.
Dean, M. D. and Ballard, J. W. O. 2005.
High divergence among Drosophila simulans mitochondrial
haplogroups arose in midst of long term
purifying selection. Molecular Phylogenetics
and Evolution 36: 328-337.
Dean,
M. D. and Ballard, J. W. O. 2004. Linking phylogenetics
with population genetics to reconstruct the geographic
origin of a species. Molecular Phylogenetics and
Evolution 32: 998-1009.
Dean,
M. D., Ballard, K. J., Glass, A., and Ballard, J. W.
O. 2003. Influence of two Wolbachia strains on population
structure of east African Drosophila
simulans. Genetics 165: 1959-1969.
James,
A. C., Dean, M. D., McMahon, M. E., and Ballard, J. W.
O. 2002. Dynamics of double and single Wolbachia infections
in Drosophila
simulans from New Caledonia. Heredity 88: 182-189.
Ballard,
J. W. O. and Dean, M. D. 2001. The mitochondrial genome:
mutation, selection and recombination. Current Opinion in Genetics
and Development 11: 667-672.
Dean,
M. D. and Ballard, J. W. O. 2001. Factors affecting mitochondrial
DNA quality from museum preserved Drosophila
simulans. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 98: 279-283.
Dean, M. D.,
N. L. Clark, G. D. Findlay, R. C. Karn, W. J. Swanson, X. Yi, M. J.
MacCoss, and M. W. Nachman. 2008. Comparative proteomics reveals heterogeneity
in evolutionary rate of male reproductive proteins in mice (Mus
domesticus). SMBE Annual Meeting,
Dean,
M. D. and Nachman, M. W. 2006. The evolution
of male reproductive genes in house mice (genus Mus). SMBE Annual Meeting,
Dean, M. D. 2004. Voice entry databasing. International
Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, Annual Meeting,
New York, New York (invited speaker).
Dean, M. D., Patterson, B. D., and Wenzel, R. L. 2000. Wing
morphology and host fidelity in bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae). Society
for the Study of Evolution, Annual Meeting, Bloomington, Indiana.
National Institutes of Health NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship (3 year grant)
The Lester Armour Graduate Fellowship, 2001 (1 year grant)
TA-of-the-year award, 1998-1999
Woods Hole Workshop on Molecular Evolution, 2003 TA
Bachelor of General Science online program professor, Roosevelt University
Genetics TA, University of Illinois
History of Life TA, University of Illinois
Ecology Laboratory TA, University of Illinois
Invertebrate Zoology TA, University of Illinois
Introductory Biology TA, University of Illinois
Ph.D., 2003, University of Iowa at Iowa City, laboratory of Dr. Bill Ballard
B.S., 1996, University of Wisconsin at Madison, laboratories of Dr. Dan Young and Dr. Kenneth Raffa