Posts by haenel | Today at 黑料不打烊 | 黑料不打烊 /u/news Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:22:32 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Haenel and Moore publish article on hybridization impacts on mitochondria function in lizards /u/news/2018/09/25/haenel-and-moore-publish-article-on-hybridization-impacts-on-mitochondria-function-in-lizards/ Wed, 26 Sep 2018 00:50:00 +0000 /u/news/2018/09/25/haenel-and-moore-publish-article-on-hybridization-impacts-on-mitochondria-function-in-lizards/ Greg Haenel, professor of Biology, and Victoria Moore, associate professor of chemistry, published “” in the September/October issue of the journal Physiological and Biochemical Zoology.

​This research brought together expertise from the biology and chemistry departments to better understand how mitochondria respond evolutionarily to extreme environments and hybridization.

Mitochondria are responsible for producing much of the energy used in cells. Haenel and Moore compared mitochondrial function in two species of lizards, one from a very hot part of the desert in Arizona and the other from a less extreme environment. They found that while both species produced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) at the same rate, the lizards from the hotter environments used less oxygen while doing so.

By also examining mitochondria of hybrids formed from mating between the two species, they were able to show that the mitochondria, which has its own genes, has coevolved with the nuclear genome. Therefore, incompatibilities between mitochondria and nuclear genes may be a key factor in maintaining genetic boundaries between closely related species.

This research was funded in part by grants from 黑料不打烊’s Faculty Research and Development Committee.

]]> Greg Haenel presents research on lizard population genetics at evolution conference /u/news/2016/06/23/greg-haenel-presents-research-on-lizard-population-genetics-at-evolution-conference/ Thu, 23 Jun 2016 15:10:00 +0000 /u/news/2016/06/23/greg-haenel-presents-research-on-lizard-population-genetics-at-evolution-conference/ Evolution 2016, the joint conference of the American Society of Naturalists, the Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Society of Systematic Biologists, was held in Austin, TX from June 17-21, 2016. Dr. Haenel presented his work “Comparison of genetic structure of two tree lizard species: differential responses of a thermal specialist and a thermal generalist to climate change” in a session on population genetics and molecular ecology. This presentation highlighted the increases in genetic diversity found in populations of a species with narrow ecological tolerances that experienced large geographic range contraction and expansion during the last Ice Age. In contrast, low levels of genetic diversity were found in populations of a closely related species with broad ecological tolerances and that had little change in geographic range. These results help us to understand what evolutionary and genetic impacts rapidly changing climates may have on species in the future.

]]> The Biology Department recognized student achievement at senior picnic and awards ceremony /u/news/2013/05/13/the-biology-department-recognized-student-achievement-at-senior-picnic-and-awards-ceremony/ Mon, 13 May 2013 14:10:00 +0000 /u/news/2013/05/13/the-biology-department-recognized-student-achievement-at-senior-picnic-and-awards-ceremony/ The following students were recognized:

Outstanding Biology Major of the Year: Erica Schenhals

Howard L. Gravett Award: Kelly Allen

The Jerry W. Lawson Biology Scholarship: Nicholas de Castro  and Rosemary Kelley

Dr. R.D. Rao Scholarship Fund in Biology: Kelly Allen

Reddish-Morgan Biology Scholarship: Kasey Llorente, Helen Wright, Melanie Hebert, Kathryn Goulah, Alexa Durante, Jillian Somero, Haley Shust, and Alexandra Gol-Chambers

Watts Scholarship in Biology: Miles Grunsvald

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