David Tian

Devils Hole Pupfish persistence

The Devils Hole Pupfish is a critically endangered species that lives in the smallest known habitat for a vertebrate in the world in Death Valley. Using genomics, I am investigating how isolation and small population size have shaped its genetic diversity over time as well as how unique deleterious variants may have influenced its recent decline. This work will better inform our understanding of the risks that isolated and endangered populations face.

Tian, D., Patton, A., Turner, B., and C. H. Martin. Severe inbreeding, increased mutation load and gene loss-of-function in the critically endangered Devils Hole pupfish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Photo: NPS

Mosquito host preference behavior

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are potent disease vectors that have evolved a robust preference for humans as hosts. Thanks to advances in CRISPR transgenics, we are able to investigate the genetic and neural basis of this fascinating behavior and what makes human odor so attractive. Hopefully, this work will lead to novel techniques and strategies for disease control and public health.

Adavi, E. D., Dos Anjos, V. L., Kotb, S., Metz, H. C., Tian, D., Zhao, Z., Zung, J. L., Rose, N. H. and C. S. McBride. Olfactory receptor coexpression and co-option in the dengue mosquito. biorxiv.

Zhao, Z., Tian, D., and C. S. McBride. Development of a pan-neuronal genetic driver in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Cell Reports Methods.

Photo: Zhilei Zhao

Butterfly wing pattern coloration

Heliconius butterflies exhibit striking diversity in wing patterns and have served as an excellent system for studying how morphology evolves and develops. Repeated Müllerian mimicry across different species allows us to investigate whether identical phenotypes arise from similar or novel developmental pathways.

Concha, C., Wallbank, W. R., Hanly, J., Fenner, J., Livraghi, L., Santiago, E., Paulo, D., Arias, C., Vargas, M., Sanjeev, M., Morrison, C., Tian, D., Massardo, D., Counterman, A. B., Scott, M., Jiggins, C., Papa, R., Martin, A. and W. O. McMillan. 2019. Interplay between developmental flexibility and determinism in the evolution of mimetic Heliconius wing patterns. Current Biology.