M. S. Barker

A comprehensive examination of Chelicerate genomes reveals no evidence for a whole genome duplication among spiders and scorpions

This study examines Chelicerate genomes to determine if whole genome duplications occurred in spiders and scorpions, finding no evidence for such events in their history.

Post-zygotic reproductive isolation is not correlated with chromosome number in plants.

The paper investigates the relationship between chromosome number and post-zygotic reproductive isolation in plants, finding no correlation.

Species Tree Topology Impacts the Inference of Ancient Whole-Genome Duplications Across the Angiosperm Phylogeny

The paper assesses how species tree topology affects the inference of ancient whole-genome duplications in angiosperms using different methods and phylogenetic hypotheses.

Demographic History Inference and the Polyploid Continuum

This paper develops diffusion models for polyploid demographic history and applies them to infer subgenome exchange rates in allotetraploid shepherds purse.

Animal chromosome counts reveal similar range of chromosome numbers but with less polyploidy in animals compared to flowering plants

The paper introduces the Animal Chromosome Count database and finds similar chromosome number distributions between animals and flowering plants, with less polyploidy in animals.

Underwater CAM photosynthesis elucidated by Isoetes genome

This study investigates underwater CAM in Isoetes taiwanensis using genome and RNA-seq data, identifying key differences in carboxylation and circadian control compared to terrestrial CAM.

Genome size evolution in the diverse insect order Trichoptera

This study examines genome size evolution in Trichoptera, finding that repetitive element expansions, especially transposable elements, drive large genome sizes and are linked to ecological diversity.

Broad variation in rates of polyploidy and dysploidy across flowering plants is correlated with lineage diversification

The paper examines polyploidy and dysploidy rates across flowering plants and finds they correlate with diversification rates, with polyploidy having a stronger correlation.

Genes derived from ancient polyploidy have higher genetic diversity and are associated with domestication in Brassica rapa

The paper identifies candidate genes associated with domestication in Brassica rapa and finds that genes from ancient polyploidy are more diverse and linked to domestication.

Chromosome-scale inference of hybrid speciation and admixture with convolutional neural networks

This paper introduces HyDe-CNN, a convolutional neural network method for inferring hybridization scenarios using genomic data, and applies it to Heliconius butterflies.

TagSeq for gene expression in non-model plants: a pilot study at the Santa Rita Experimental Range NEON core site

The paper tests TagSeq for gene expression in non-model plants using reference transcriptomes, finding high tag alignment and consistent spatial expression patterns across four species.

Phylogeny and Multiple Independent Whole-Genome Duplication Events in the Brassicales

The paper infers phylogenies and places whole-genome duplication events in Brassicales using phylo-transcriptomics and genome survey sequencing.

Inferring putative ancient whole genome duplications in the 1000 Plants (1KP) initiative: access to gene family phylogenies and age distributions

The paper infers 244 putative ancient whole genome duplications across green plants using 1KP transcriptome data and evaluates their consistency with syntenic analyses.

Polyploidy increases overall diversity despite higher turnover than diploids in the Brassicaceae

This study examines the evolutionary impact of polyploidy in the Brassicaceae family, finding that polyploids have faster speciation and extinction rates but contribute significantly to long-term species diversity.

Nuclear Genome Size is Positively Correlated with Mean LTR Insertion Date in Fern and Lycophyte Genomes

The paper finds a positive correlation between nuclear genome size and mean LTR insertion dates in ferns and lycophytes, similar to seed plants.

Polyploid plants have faster rates of multivariate climatic niche evolution than their diploid relatives

The paper compares climatic niche evolution rates between polyploid and diploid plant species, finding polyploids evolve faster and have less climatic overlap with their diploid relatives.

Multiple large-scale gene and genome duplications during the evolution of hexapods

The paper investigates ancient whole genome duplications in hexapods using transcriptomes and genomes from over 150 insect species, finding 18 WGDs and six other large-scale gene duplication bursts.