<!-- Preferences start here * Set PAGETITLE = Barrick Lab :: UT Austin Preferences end here --> ---+ Barrick Lab :: Home <div style="text-align:justify"> <div style="float: right; margin:0px 5px 0px 10px; width:200px"><a href="%WIKIHOMEURL%/%WEB%/FormerFrontPageImages"><img style="border-color: black; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" width=200 height=267 src="%PUBURL%/%WEB%/FrontPageImages/NRG_Cover_Dec_2013.png"></a><div align=center><b>Genome dynamics in experimental evolution [[http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v14/n12/abs/nrg3564.html][«Read article at NRG»]]</b></div></div> We are broadly interested in understanding evolution as a creative force. We primarily use experiments with microorganisms and molecules to watch evolution as it happens. We are especially interested in how the potential for adaptive evolution (evolvability) can itself evolve due to mutations that alter mutation rates and genetic interactions. We use molecular systems biology approaches to unravel the dynamics of genetic trajectories and diversity in these laboratory populations, including developing tools for analyzing next-generation DNA sequencing data. We are also beginning to use synthetic biology approaches to manipulate the evolutionary potential of microorganisms by giving them access to new chemical building blocks and routes for genetic change. Our eventual goals are to use what we learn in these model systems to better control evolutionary processes to produce desirable biotechnology solutions and to anticipate and frustrate the evolution of pathogenic microbes and cancers. Read more about our current [[ResearchInterests][%ICON{tip}% Research Interests]] </div> <div style="width=100%; background-color:#CCFFCC; overflow:hidden; padding: 3px"> %ICON{award}% *August 2014:* Graduate student Michael Hammerling is awarded a UT Graduate School Named Continuing Fellowship. </div> <div style="width=100%; background-color:#CCCCFF; overflow:hidden; padding: 3px"> %ICON{changes}% *April 2014:* Graduate student Gabriel "Gabo" Suarez passes his Part A Exam. </div> <div style="width=100%; background-color:#FFCCCC; overflow:hidden; padding: 3px"> %ICON{choice-yes}% *February 2014:* Our work evolving bacteriophage T7 on a host with an expanded genetic code is published in <a href="http://www.nature.com/nchembio/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nchembio.1450.html"><i>Nature Chemical Biology</i></a>. </div> <div style="width=100%; background-color:#FFFFCC; overflow:hidden; padding: 3px"> <img src="%PUBURL%/%WEB%/WebLeftBar/beacon_icon.png"> *July 2013:* Graduate student Mike Hammerling's work featured in [[http://beacon-center.org/blog/2013/07/22/beacon-researchers-at-work-expanding-the-genetic-code/][BEACON blog post]]. </div> <div style="width=100%; background-color:#FFCCCC; overflow:hidden; padding: 3px"> <img src="%PUBURL%/%WEB%/WebLeftBar/oww_icon.png"> *June 2013:* Postdoc Dr. Dan Deatherage's work featured in IDT's _DECODED_ newsletter. [[https://www.idtdna.com/pages/decoded/decoded-articles/your-research/decoded/2013/06/28/target-enrichment-identifies-mutations-that-confer-fitness-effects][Article Link]] </div> <div style="width=100%; background-color:#CCFFCC; overflow:hidden; padding: 3px"> %ICON{persons}% *June 2013:* Postdoc Dr. Colin Brown joins the lab. </div> <div style="width=100%; background-color:#CCCCFF; overflow:hidden; padding: 3px"> %ICON{changes}% *May 2013:* Graduate students Michael Hammerling and Brian Renda pass their Part B Exams and are admitted to candidacy. </div> <div style="width=100%; background-color:#CCFFFF; overflow:hidden; padding: 3px"> %ICON{persons}% *April 2013:* Graduate student Gabriel Suarez and postdoc Dr. Dennis Mishler join the lab. </div> <div style="width=100%; background-color:#FFCCCC; overflow:hidden; padding: 3px"> <img src="%PUBURL%/%WEB%/WebLeftBar/coffee_icon.png"> *March 2013:* Paper describing "addicted" _E. coli_ that can be used for decaffeination and measuring the caffeine content of beverages published in <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/sb4000146"><i>ACS Synthetic Biology</i></a>. [[http://voicerussia.com/radio_broadcast/72430379/111907796.html][Radio Interview]] | [[http://www.slate.com/blogs/trending/2013/04/01/caffeine_addiction_bacteria_study_shows_chemical_dependence_possible_in.html][Slate Video]] | [[http://quo.mx/2013/04/01/pragmatas/para-que-hacer-a-bacteria-adicta-al-cafe][En Español]] </div> [[%WIKIHOMEURL%/%WEB%/OldNews][Archived news items »]] <!-- <div style="float: right; margin:10px;"><img style="border-color: green; border-style: solid; border-width: 3px;" height=300 width=300 src="%PUBURL%/%WEB%/FrontPageImages/FMN_Aptamer.png"><br><div align=center><b>Riboswitch 2° Structure Prediction</b></div></div> -->
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Topic revision: r99 - 2014-09-02 - MichaelHammerling