Olivia Kosterlitz

The paper examines the evolutionary tradeoff between horizontal and vertical gene transfer in plasmids, finding mixed evidence and proposing that HGT relaxes constraints by introducing plasmids into novel hosts.

This study develops a mathematical model to understand selection for horizontal plasmid transfer and shows that modifying lab protocols can tip selection towards horizontal gene transfer.

This study shows that inactivating the upf31 gene in a plasmid improves its maintenance in E. coli by altering gene regulation, demonstrating how plasmid evolution can affect host range.

The paper uses experimental evolution in spider mites to map genetic loci underlying pesticide resistance and host plant adaptation, revealing polygenic and locus-specific mechanisms.