M. Schumer

Recent evolution of large offspring size and post-fertilization nutrient provisioning in swordtails

This study compares reproductive strategies between two swordtail fish species, finding that X. malinche produces larger, more resilient offspring through extended post-fertilization nutrient provisioning.

Complex structural variation and behavioral interactions underpin a balanced sexual mimicry polymorphism

The paper identifies a genetic basis for a sexual mimicry polymorphism in swordtail fish and links it to behavioral interactions that may maintain the polymorphism.

Pervasive gene flow despite strong and varied reproductive barriers in swordtails

This study shows that despite strong reproductive barriers, gene flow is pervasive between closely related swordtail fish species through hybridization and genetic incompatibilities.

Genome evolution is surprisingly predictable after initial hybridization

The paper shows that local ancestry in hybrid swordtail fish populations is repeatable due to strong early selection, and this repeatability increases with deeper evolutionary divergence.

Patterns of recombination in snakes reveal a tug of war between PRDM9 and promoter-like features

The study analyzes recombination patterns in corn snakes to show that both PRDM9 and promoter-like features influence recombination, revealing a competitive interaction between these mechanisms.

Recurrent evolution of small body size and loss of the sword ornament in Northern Swordtail fish

The paper uses whole-genome sequencing to resolve phylogenetic relationships in Xiphophorus fish, revealing recurrent loss of sexually selected traits like body size and sword ornaments.

Complex hybridization between deeply diverged fish species in a disturbed ecosystem

The paper develops a tool for ancestry inference in three-way hybrids and reports a complex hybridization event between three swordtail fish species linked to anthropogenic disturbance.

Genomic insights into variation in thermotolerance between hybridizing swordtail fishes

The paper investigates thermotolerance variation in hybrid swordtail fish using genomic and transcriptomic analyses, finding reduced thermotolerance in hybrids due to genomic regions and misexpression of thermal stress genes.

Imbalanced segregation of recombinant haplotypes in hybrid populations reveals inter- and intrachromosomal Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities

The paper develops new statistics to detect Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities in hybrid populations by analyzing haplotype frequency imbalances, identifying new DMI candidates in swordtail fish.

A Lethal Genetic Incompatibility between Naturally Hybridizing Species in Mitochondrial Complex I

The paper identifies a lethal mitonuclear incompatibility in swordtail fish hybrids involving three Complex I genes, showing non-additive genetic effects and inter-species transfer of incompatibility.

Predictability and parallelism in the contemporary evolution of hybrid genomes

The paper examines repeatability in local ancestry across hybrid swordtail fish populations and identifies shared genomic regions under selection.

Genetic evidence for environment-dependent hybrid incompatibilities in threespine stickleback

The paper tests for environment-dependent hybrid incompatibilities in threespine stickleback by comparing excess heterozygosity in F2 hybrids raised in different environments.

PRDM9 losses in vertebrates are coupled to those of paralogs ZCWPW1 and ZCWPW2

The paper identifies genes coevolving with PRDM9 across vertebrates, suggesting ZCWPW1 and ZCWPW2 as key interactors in meiotic recombination.

Two new hybrid zones expand the swordtail hybridization model system

The paper identifies two genetically distinct subpopulations in swordtail fish hybrid zones, suggesting strong assortative mating and limited gene flow.

The genetic architecture of the sexually selected sword ornament and its evolution in hybrid populations

The paper investigates the genetic architecture of a sexually selected sword ornament in swordtail fish, identifying a major QTL and candidate genes, and finding evidence of selection against the trait in hybrid populations.

Natural hybridization reveals incompatible alleles that cause melanoma in swordtail fish

Using a combination of mapping approaches, we identify interacting genes that lead to melanoma in hybrids and characterize their effects in natural hybrid populations.

Natural selection interacts with the local recombination rate to shape the evolution of hybrid genomes

The persistence of hybrid ancestry is predictable from local recombination rates in three replicate hybrid populations and in humans.

Repeated losses of PRDM9-directed recombination despite the conservation of PRDM9 across vertebrates

The paper identifies PRDM9 orthologs across 225 vertebrate species and finds repeated losses of PRDM9-directed recombination despite its conservation, linking complete orthologs to rapid evolution of binding affinity.