Research
Our primary research interest is to develop a better understanding of the
highly dynamic genomic changes and their corresponding functional consequences.
To accomplish this research, we conduct comparative
genomic studies using next-generation sequencing,
experimental and bioinformatics approaches. Much of our published work
has been carried out on bacterial pathogens and eukaryotic mitochondria,
and has focused on the exchange of genetic material between more or less
distantly related genomes.
We plan to
continue the investigation of genome evolution and associated
functional consequences in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
1) Determine how horizontal gene transfer and homologous recombination
change the genome architecture in bacteria and eukaryotic mitochondria.
2) Investigate horizontal transfer and dynamics of antibiotic resistance
genes in nature using metagenomics approaches.
3) Investigate the evolution and epidemiology of
bacterial pathogens via comparative genomics.
4) Investigate how mitochondrial changes affect fitness and aging in yeast
