SOOJIN
YI
I am interested in understanding the genetic basis of genome evolution. Here are some of the current projects in the lab.
(Click on titles for more information and recent publications.)
New World primates (Platyrrhini) are a charismatic group of species known for their adaptive diversification. I also believe that they have an enormous potential to serve as a model group to study genome evolution. Just to name a couple of reasons why, New World monkeys are extremely diverse group, encompassing genetic divergences found in hominoids and Old World monkeys. Also, there are many independent evolution of specific traits, comparable to those found in hominoid evolution (such as evolution of brain size). I am interested in understanding genome evolution of this relatively less explored primates.
In collaboration with
Dr. Derek Wildman
at Wayne State University, we are currently undertaking a phylogenomic analyses of New World monkeys, generating novel, non-coding genomic markers throughout their genomes.