Michael F. Palopoli

Associate Professor of Biology, Chair of Biology Department

Spring 2012

  • Scientific Reasoning in Biology (BIO 109A)
  • Evolution (BIO 216)
  • Advanced Independent Study and Honors in Biology (BIO 402)
Phone 725-3657
Title Associate Professor
Department Biology
2nd Title Chair
2nd Department BIOLOGY
Work Location 130D Druckenmiller Hall
E-Mail mpalopol@bowdoin.edu

Education:

B.S. Psychology, University of Michigan, 1987
M.S. Biology, University of Michigan, 1989
Ph.D. Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, 1995

Teaching Area:

Evolutionary Biology

Research Interests:

My teaching and research interests are centered within the field of evolutionary genetics. Current research projects include: testing models of antagonistic coevolution by studying populations of nematodes that have evolved under different mating conditions; developing transgenic technology in fruit flies in order to test hypotheses about the function of non-coding DNA (collaboration with Jack Bateman); and using mitochondrial genome sequences to investigate the coevolutionary relationships between follicle mites and their mammalian hosts

Other Interests:

Science fiction, online gaming,

Recent Publications:

(* indicates Bowdoin College undergraduate coauthor)

Palopoli MF, Rockman MV, TinMaung A*, Ramsay C*, Curwen S*, Aduna A*, Laurita J*, and Kruglyak L. 2008. Molecular basis of the copulatory plug polymorphism in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature (in press, doi:10.1038/nature07171).

Prachumwat A*, DeVincentis L*, Palopoli MF. 2004. Intron size correlates positively with recombination rate in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 166:1585-90

Graustein A*, Walters J*, Gaspar J*, and Palopoli MF. 2002. Levels of DNA polymorphism vary with mating systems in the nematode genus Caenorhabditis. Genetics 161: 99-107.
Graustein_etal2002

Suzuki Y* and Palopoli MF. 2001. Evolution of insect abdominal appendages: Are prolegs homologous or convergent traits? Development, Genes, and Evolution 211: 486-492.
Suzuki Palopoli2001

Palopoli MF. 2000. Genetic partners in crime: Evolution of an ultraselfish supergene that specializes in sperm sabotage. Pp. 113-116 in Wolf, J, ED Brodie III, and MJ Wade, (eds.) Epistasis and the Evolutionary Process. Oxford Press, Oxford.

Palopoli MF and Patel NH. 1998. Evolution of the interaction between Hox genes and a downstream target. Current Biology 8: 587-590.

yoda - used with permission