Regina A. Fairbanks

This study shows that maize evolved a higher recombination rate and re-patterning of crossover events during domestication, which enhanced genetic diversity and adaptation.

This study uses long-read genome assemblies from maize to develop a new method for detecting selection on transposable elements, identifying factors like gene distance and DNA methylation levels that influence TE selection.

This study shows the tga1 allele in maize originated 41,000-49,000 years ago, predating domestication, and suggests standing genetic variation, not de novo mutation, drove maize domestication.

This study identifies epigenetic factors underlying adaptive phenotypic plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster, showing genotype-dependent chromatin changes associated with diapause.