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lab profile
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Rachel Collin Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute STRI
Unit 9100, box 0948
DPO, AA 34002
USA
collinr@si.edu 507-212-8766
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PI: |
YES |
Taxa Studied: |
Invertebrate Animals |
Techniques Employed: |
Scanning Electron Microscopy, Epifluoresence Microscopy, Other, animal identification, care and maintenance, Larval rearing. |
Research Description: |
I am interested in the comparative biology and evolution of life histories and development in marine gasropods. I work mainly with Calyptraeids and Crepidula. We are trying to lobby for the genome sequencing of Crepidula fornicata to further develop it as a model system for evo-devo and larval biology. The work in my lab focuses mostly on two types of transitions, the evolutionary transition from planktotrophic development to direct development and the individual transition from male to female in these sex changing animals. We are hoping to apply genomics techniques to both questions but have been slow to get started on the work due to lack of expertise in the lab. Down here in Panama we have access to a wide diversity of invertebrate taxa and the facilities to grow them. |
Lab Web Page: |
http://www.stri.org/english/scientific_staff/staff_scientist/scientist.php?id=4 |
Willing to Host Undergraduates: |
YES |
Actively Seeking Undergraduates: |
NO |
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