TriBeta Sponsored Speaker Event with Dr. Stephanie O'Geal

TriBeta Sponsored Speaker Event

• Introduction by Speaker Coordinator

  • Event sponsored by TriBeta biology honors club

  • First speaker event returning after a hiatus

  • Call for suggestions on future speakers (fall semester)

  • Proposals should be emailed to: CSU.fforFresno,biologyclub@gmail.com

Speaker: Dr. Stephanie O'Geal

• Background

  • Grew up in Southeastern Arizona

  • Bachelor's and Master's from the University of Arizona

  • PhD completed at Cornell University at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

  • Research focus: Genetic basis of color in northern flickers

• Current Role

  • Started her lab at UCLA in summer 2022

  • First official event as a faculty member

Personal Journey

• Dr. O'Geal's Background

  • First-generation college student

  • Family origins: Father from Mexico

  • Inspired by the Sonoran Desert experience: unique biodiversity

• Academic Path

  • Initial interest: engineering (switched after one semester)

  • Majors: Environmental Science, then Natural Resources

  • Connection to ornithology made through a course and lab experience

  • Shifted focus to a PhD after engaging in research

Research Journey

• Early Research Experiences

  • Remote sensing: Studying dust storms in Northern Arizona

  • NSF Research Experience: Decomposition of plant leaves

  • Behavioral ecology research in bluebirds

• Current Research Focus

  • Exploring genomic sequencing and coloration in birds

  • Specifically, woodpecker species: northern flickers

• Concept of Hybridization

  • A key mechanism in evolutionary studies

  • Examples of hybridization: mules (donkey + horse), other hybrids in nature

  • Importance of studying hybridization to understand genetics and phenotypes

Detailed Insight into Northern Flickers

• Northern Flickers:

  • Two color morphs: Red- Shafted and Yellow-Shafted

  • Geographic distribution: red in the West, yellow in the East

  • Hybrid zones formed where populations meet

• Combining Hybridization and Color

  • Use of genomic data to study coloration differences based on genetic traits

  • Examining notable differences in coloration and patterns between the two morphs

• Research Methodology

  • Fieldwork: DNA samples from birds either through blood or tissue samples

  • Lab analysis: Whole genome sequencing

  • Bioinformatics: Understanding traits using sequence data

• Understanding Coloration Genetics

  • Investigating genetic markers tied to specific traits through Manhattan plots

  • Discussion of SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) as differentiation markers

Implications of Findings

• Identifying genes affecting coloration with evolutionary significance

  • Genes involved in melanin and carotenoid production suggest complex interactions

  • Example of key gene CYP2J19 related to yellow and red pigmentation

• Observational Studies

  • Insights from community science: aberrant individuals lacking melanin

  • Connections made between color patterns and underlying genetic control

Future Directions and Research Opportunities

• Projects ongoing in O'Geal's lab include:

  • Conservation genomics with scrub jays

  • Studies on avian skeletal morphology influenced by glacial cycles

  • Quantitative research on color measurement using reflective spectra photography

  • Investigating structure of feathers and their connection to coloration

• Conclusion

  • Emphasis on future research outputs and collaborations

  • Appreciation for students, faculty, and funding sources

• Q&A Session

  • Discussion of DNA sampling in the field using mist nets

  • Broad-scale genome assessment methodology versus specific gene analysis concerns.