Jeanine Abrams

My research focuses on the evolutionary dynamics of ranaviruses that have been implicated in recent anuran population die-offs. I am particularly interested in the ways in which molecular systematics can be utilized to understand the historical and more recent spread of the viruses in anuran populations. I am currently working to assess the utility of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene as a nuclear marker for use in amphibian phylogenetic studies. My undergraduate research included a study of geographic variation and positive selection in M7 lysin, an acrosomal sperm protein found in mussels of the Mytilus genus. In addition, I studied the detection and origin of nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (Numts) in stylasterid corals.