Bethany Wasik
Graduate Student

My projects in the Moczek lab focus on the evolution and development of horns and horn diversity in various species of Onthophagus beetles. Horns in these beetles represent morphological novelties and serve a primary function as secondary sexual characteristics in both males and females. Onthophagus beetles develop both thoracic and head horns from epidermal outgrowths, and horn size and location vary dramatically across closely-related species in the genus. My projects require an integrative approach to studying beetle horns, employing techniques from both gene expression and functional studies in various developmental stages. Using these methods, I am pursuing several candidate genes involved in appendage development, segment polarity, and body axis patterning processes to determine their role in the development of this novel structure. Overall, my goal is to elucidate how the development of horns are regulated on a molecular level, as well as provide clues into the evolution of differential horn growth above and below the species level.

Funding and Affiliations:
NIH Genetics Training Grant (2004-2007)
Evolution, Development, and Genomics IGERT Fellowship (2007-2009)
Co-advisor: Mike Wade

Publications:
Moczek AP, Rose D, Sewell W, Kesselring BR 2006. Conservation, innovation, and the evolution of horned beetle diversity. Development Genes and Evolution 216: 655-665.

Wasik BR, Rose DJ, and Moczek AP, 2009. The specification of a novel structure, beetle horns, is regulated by the Hox gene, Sex combs reduced in a species- and sex-specific manner. To be submitted summer 2009.