Tiffany Malek
Tiffany Malek

Tiffany Malek

Graduate Research Associate

tmalek@u.washington.edu

  • B.A. Marine Biology (1997)
    University of California, Santa Cruz
  • M.A. Biology (2002)
    San Fransisco State University

Research Interests | Publications


Research Interests

Knowing the genetic mechanisms by which an organism diverges from a common ancestral form and adapts to its environment is key to understanding the evolution of a species. I study divergence in male nuptial coloration in the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Most male sticklebacks display a bright red throat and blue eyes during the breeding season. This nuptial color plays an important role in mate recognition and selection. However, some stickleback populations in North America have evolved a black nuptial color in response to differences in water coloration. To map the genomic regions responsible for differences in male nuptial color, I have set up crosses between black and red morphs from British Columbia (BC) and Washington state (WA). Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of the BC mapping cross has revealed three loci linked to variation in male coloration. I am currently analyzing the WA cross to determine if black nuptial coloration within the WA populations arose by the same genetic mechanisms as black nuptial color within the BC populations. I am also using a novel admixture mapping method in a recently formed hybrid population in the wild to investigate the genetic basis of male nuptial color. This method will not only complement my QTL findings from lab crosses but may also provide a more general and powerful method for mapping adaptive variation in natural populations.
Nuptial colors in sticklebacks

Publications

  • Hodgson, J. G., Malek, T., Bornstein, S., Hariono, S., Ginzinger, D.G., Muller, W.J., Gray, J.W. (2005) Copy Number Aberrations in Mouse Breast Tumors Reveal Loci and Genes Important in Tumorigenic Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling. Cancer Res 65: 9695-9704.
  • Parker, H.G., Kim, L.V., Sutter, N.B., Carlson, S., Lorentzon, T.D., Malek, T.B., Johnson, G.S., DeFrance, H.B., Ostrander, E.A., Kruglyak, L. (2004) Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog. Science 304: 1160-1164.
  • Wang, C.L., Hodgson, G., Malek, T., Pedersen, F.S., Wabl, M. (2004) A Murine Leukemia Virus with Cre-LoxP Excisible Coding Sequences Allowing Superinfection, Transgene Delivery, and Generation of Host Genomic Deletions. Retrovirology 1: 5-15.
  • Gallo-Reynoso, J. P., Bean, T., Palomino, E., Figureroa-Carranza, A.L. and Ortiz, C.L. (2004) Mysticetes on the midriff area of the Gulf of California during the summers of 1995, 1996 and 1997. 18:203-211 in V. Sanchez-Cordero and R. A. Medellin, eds. Contribuciones Mastozoologicas en Homenaje a Bernardo Villa. Instituto de Biologia e Instituto de Ecologia UNAM, Mexico D.F. ISBN 967-3422-44-9.

Page Last Updated: 6 December 2007
Contact the Peichel Lab Webmaster


Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
1100 Fairview Ave. N. PO Box 19024 Seattle, WA 98109
©2008 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, a nonprofit organization.
Terms of Use & Privacy Policy.