Rachel M. Petersen

Contrasting effects of forest fragmentation on the genetics and microbiomes of an endangered arboreal primate

This study examines how forest fragmentation affects the genetics and microbiomes of black howler monkeys, finding contrasting patterns where genetic diversity increases in fragmented areas while microbiome diversity decreases.

Divergent Biological Consequences of APOE Isoforms Across Industrialized and Non-Industrial Environments

This study examines how APOE isoforms affect biological outcomes in industrialized and non-industrial environments, finding lifestyle-dependent effects and weak reproductive benefits for APOE ε4.

Age and early life adversity shape heterogeneity of the epigenome across tissues in macaques

The paper shows that age and early life adversity affect DNA methylation across tissues in macaques, with distinct but overlapping patterns.

Early life environments shape adult cardiometabolic health during rapid lifestyle change

The paper examines how early life environments affect adult cardiometabolic health in the Orang Asli, finding support for developmental constraints over predictive adaptive responses.

Early life adversity shapes life history trade-offs between growth and reproduction in free-ranging rhesus macaques

This study shows that early life adversity in rhesus macaques affects growth, reproductive timing, and lifetime reproductive success, with adversity intensifying trade-offs between growth and reproduction.

Genetically-based sperm discrimination in the vaginal tract of a primate species

The paper investigates genetically based sperm discrimination in primates by examining vaginal immune responses and pH changes after mating with genetically similar males.

Uncovering methylation-dependent genetic effects on regulatory element function in diverse genomes

The paper identifies methylation-dependent genetic effects on regulatory elements in diverse human genomes using a multiplexed mSTARR-seq assay, revealing 8,020 sites with genetic effects, 42.3% of which vary with methylation state.

Cost-effective solutions for high-throughput enzymatic DNA methylation sequencing

The paper optimizes a reduced representation DNA methylation sequencing protocol for cost-effective, population-scale studies across species.