Jackie LightenUniversity of Exeter | UoE · Department of Biosciences
Jackie Lighten
PhD, BBSRC Research Fellow
About
20
Publications
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433
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Introduction
I am interested in investigating links between genetic and phenotypic variation, which infer adaptation.
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=4LcjI4MAAAAJ&hl=en
Education
October 2006 - October 2007
September 2002 - June 2005
Publications
Publications (20)
The relative importance of genetic versus epigenetic changes in adaptive evolution is a hotly debated topic, with studies showing that some species appear to be able to adapt rapidly without significant genetic change. Epigenetic mechanisms may be particularly important for the evolutionary potential of species with long maturation times and low re...
To the Editor — The Australian government is considering employing the koi herpesvirus (KHV) for biocontrol of invasive common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) in the Murray–Darling river system of southeast Australia in 2018 1 , 2 .
Red Queen host–parasite co-evolution can drive adaptations of immune genes by positive selection that erodes genetic variation (Red Queen arms race) or results in a balanced polymorphism (Red Queen dynamics) and long-term preservation of genetic variation (trans-species polymorphism). These two Red Queen processes are opposite extremes of the co-ev...
The impact of human mediated environmental change on the evolutionary trajectories of wild organisms is poorly understood. In particular, species' capacity to adapt rapidly (in hundreds of generations or less), reproducibly and predictably to extreme environmental change is unclear. Silene uniflora is predominantly a coastal species, but it has als...
Common carp Cyprinus carpio is one of the top global invasive vertebrates and can cause significant ecological damage. The Australian Government's National Carp Control Program (NCCP) proposes to release Koi herpesvirus (KHV) to eradicate feral carp in one of the largest ecological interventions ever attempted. Ecological and human health risks hav...
Phenotypic plasticity in ancestral populations is hypothesized to facilitate adaptation, but evidence is piecemeal and often contradictory. Further, whether ancestral plasticity increases the probability of parallel adaptive changes has not been explored. The most general finding is that ancestral responses to a new environment are reversed followi...
Phenotypic plasticity in ancestral populations is hypothesised to facilitate adaptation, but evidence supporting its contribution is piecemeal and often contradictory. Further, whether ancestral plasticity increases the probability of parallel genetic and phenotypic adaptive changes has not been explored. The most general finding is that nearly all...
The impact of human-mediated environmental change on the evolutionary trajectories of wild organisms is poorly understood. In particular, species' capacities to adapt rapidly (in hundreds of generations or less), reproducibly and predictably to extreme environmental change is unclear. Silene uniflora is predominantly a coastal species, but it has a...
The guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a model species in ecology and
evolution. Many studies have examined effects of predators on
guppy behaviour, reproduction, survival strategies, feeding and
other life-history traits, but few have studied variation in their
parasite diversity. We surveyed parasites of 18 Trinidadian
populations of guppy, to provid...
Here is the video of myself and others giving evidence in the Australian Senate regarding the proposed release of Koi Herpesvirus into their waterways: http://parlview.aph.gov.au/mediaPlayer.php?videoID=403648&operation_mode=parlview
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a key role in disease resistance and is the most polymorphic gene region in vertebrates. Although habitat fragmentation is predicted to lead to a loss in MHC variation through drift, the impact of other evolutionary forces may counter this effect. Here we assess the impact of selection, drift, migrat...
Complete mitochondrial genomes of two northwest Atlantic sand lances (Ammodytes americanus and Ammodytes dubius) were sequenced, assembled, and annotated. Both genomes were 16 519 bp in length and were differentiated by a genetic distance of only 0.01. Furthermore, mitochondrial gene annotations were identical for both species. Phylogenetic analysi...
Hybrid zones provide unprecedented opportunity for the study of the evolution of reproductive isolation, and the extent of hybridization across individuals and genomes can illuminate the degree of isolation. We examine patterns of interchromosomal linkage disequilibrium (ILD) and the presence of hybridization in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, in previ...
It is now recognized that speciation can proceed even when divergent natural selection is opposed by gene flow. Understanding the extent to which environmental gradients and geographical distance can limit gene flow within species can shed light on the relative roles of selection and dispersal limitation during the early stages of population diverg...
The genotyping of highly polymorphic multigene families across many individuals used to be a particularly challenging task because of methodological limitations associated with traditional approaches. Next generation sequencing (NGS) can overcome most of these limitations, and it is increasingly being applied in population genetic studies of multig...
It is now recognized that speciation can proceed even when divergent natural selection is opposed by gene flow. Understanding the extent to which environmental gradients and geographical distance can limit gene flow within species can shed light on the relative roles of selection and dispersal limitation during the early stages of population diverg...
We address the bioinformatic issue of accurately separating amplified genes of the major histocompatability complex (MHC) from artifacts generated during high-throughput sequencing workflows. We fit observed ultra-deep sequencing depths (hundreds to thousands of sequences per amplicon) of allelic variants to expectations from genetic models of copy...
Questions
Questions (11)
I am looking for samples from a known inbred line of common carp. If anyone can help then please contact me.
Does anyone have access to the following paper and could share it?
Díaz, M. T. and T. G. González 1990. Ciclo de vida de Saccocoelioides tarpazensis n. sp. (Trematoda: Haploporidae). Acta Científica Venezolana 41:327-336
Can anyone please provide me with any proper estimate of the financial cost that Koi herpes virus has had/continues to have on Koi/common carp aquaculture?
Thanks,
J
Hi,
I would like to calculate linkage disequilibrium among MHC alleles in a non-model organism, where a genotype contains multiple alleles found across duplicated loci showing copy number variation. We do not know the locus affiliation of alleles (as we use degenerate primers) and so this renders the typical approach used by LD softwares invalid as alleles need to be assigned to loci (in those that I have come across).
Would it not be valid to calculate all possible pairwise combinations of alleles in a population and test the deviation of the frequency of pairs from expectations under Hardy Weinberg equilibrium? This totally ignores assigning alleles to loci.
Any advice would be much apprecoiated.
Many thanks in advance
J
Hi,
I am looking for data on ocean temperatures in Atlantic Canada (specifically the Bay of Fundy, Scotian Self, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence). I would ideally like ocean floor temperatures but I acknowledge that sea surface temperatures would be the next best thing.
The goal is to produce a map showing the differences in ocean summer temperture between regions (maybe in R?).
Many thanks in advance,
Jack
Hi all,
If anyone can recommend a current and comprehensive book detailing the evolution and function of the vertebrate immune system I would be most grateful.
Thanks,
JL
Are there any other well documented examples of loci that are duplicated and highly polymorphic?
Apparently KIR genes are, but finding a straight answer as to what loci are highly polymorphic and/or duplicated is not very easy from the human based literature.
Any examples of duplicated polymorphic loci (immune related or not) would be of interest.
Thanks in advance,
Jackie
I am currently studying MHC IIb in fish, yet can't seem to find literature that clearly delineates the homologue in humans (HLA). HLA is better characterized, but still it seems as if there are synonyms for loci amongst unclear definitions between disparate loci. Thus far two loci seem likely candidates: HLA-DMB and HLA-DOB.
If anyone has any clear literature succinctly summarizing the HLA, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Jack
Hi,
I am in need of a digital and accurate map of Trinidad, which shows all/as many rivers as possible. I do not have access to such GIS information and would be very grateful to anyone who could aid me.
Thanks,
J.
