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We are broadly interested in the evolution of transcriptional regulation, using a combination of experimental and computational approaches. Our research spans scales from single nucleotides to entire genomes. At the finer end of this spectrum, we focus on the functional consequences and fitness components of specific genetic variants within regulatory sequences of several genes associated with traits of interest. At the other end of the spectrum, we develop computational and statistical methods to detect natural selection on regulatory elements and empirical approaches to identify functional variation in transcriptional regulation throughout the genome. At intermediate scales, we investigate natural functional variation within gene networks, including heritability, correlations across the network, natural selection, and associations with organismal traits. We address these questions in sea urchins, primates, and butterflies.

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Wray and McClay labs at DBSUMI 2025

From April 2-5, 2025, our lab packed bags full of new data and headed to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, for the 28th Developmental Biology of Sea Urchins and other Marine Invertebrates (DBSUMI XXVIII) conference. This meeting was held at the famous Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL). This gathering is an event for researchers studying the developmental biology …

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Brennan’s paper accepted in Development

Congratulations to Brennan for his paper in Development. Click here for your own copy.

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Kaylie Joined the Lab!

Kaylie, a first year student in the Biology program, joined the lab to work on the butterfly team! She is broadly interested in the epigenetics behind vein patterning in butterfly wing discs.

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Dave and Alejo Take a Research Trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer

  With the purpose of understanding the mechanisms of sea urchin development, our researchers, Alejo and Dave, embarked on a four-week journey to the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer. They went to investigate the mechanisms of gene expression between the vegetal and animal sections of the sea urchin embryo of Paracentrotus lividus. This embryo has a pigmented …

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