Martin Kreitman

My research centers on molecular population genetics and evolution. I am interested in understanding the evolutionary basis for high levels of polymorphisms within species, and in determining whether natural selection contributes to the maintenance of within- species variation. I am also interested in knowing whether molecular evolution between species results from the same evolutionary forces that produce intra-species variation. Using the alcohol dehydrogenase locus (Adh) as a model system, our studies reveal how selection has contributed to the evolution of the locus over three time scales: affecting populations, affecting species, and affecting long-term molecular evolution. Finally, because our ability to acquire molecular data is limited by technology, I place a special emphasis on developing better methods for measuring genetic variation. Current projects in the lab include the role of natural selection in the evolution of codon nias, the relationship between recombination rates and levels on nucleotide polymorphism, and the forces of governing variation in the mitrochondrial genome of fruitflies.

My research centers on molecular population genetics and evolution. I am interested in understanding the evolutionary basis for high levels of polymorphisms within species, and in determining whether natural selection contributes to the maintenance of within- species variation. I am also interested in knowing whether molecular evolution between species results from the same evolutionary forces that produce intra-species variation. Using the alcohol dehydrogenase locus (Adh) as a model system, our studies reveal how selection has contributed to the evolution of the locus over three time scales: affecting populations, affecting species, and affecting long-term molecular evolution. Finally, because our ability to acquire molecular data is limited by technology, I place a special emphasis on developing better methods for measuring genetic variation. Current projects in the lab include the role of natural selection in the evolution of codon nias, the relationship between recombination rates and levels on nucleotide polymorphism, and the forces of governing variation in the mitrochondrial genome of fruitflies.

Comeron, J. and M. Kreitman 1998. Natural selection on synonymous sites is correlated with gene length and recombination rate in Drosophila. Genetics 151(1):239-49.  

Comeron, J., and M. Kreitman 1998. The correlation between synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions in Drosophila: mutation, natural selection or relaxed constraints? Genetics 150:767-775. 

Kreitman, M. and M. Ludwig 1996. Tempo and mode of regulatory evolution in even-skipped in Drosophila. In, Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 7:583-592.  

Kreitman, M., and H. Akashi 1995. Molecular evidence for natural selection. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 26:403-422. 

Ludwig, M., N. Patel, and M. Kreitman 1998. Functional conservation of even-skipped stripe 2 enhancer in Drosophila. Development 125:949-958.  

Comeron, J. and M. Kreitman 1998. Natural selection on synonymous sites is correlated with gene length and recombination rate in Drosophila. Genetics 151(1):239-49.  

Comeron, J., and M. Kreitman 1998. The correlation between synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions in Drosophila: mutation, natural selection or relaxed constraints? Genetics 150:767-775. 

Kreitman, M. and M. Ludwig 1996. Tempo and mode of regulatory evolution in even-skipped in Drosophila. In, Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 7:583-592.  

Kreitman, M., and H. Akashi 1995. Molecular evidence for natural selection. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 26:403-422. 

Ludwig, M., N. Patel, and M. Kreitman 1998. Functional conservation of even-skipped stripe 2 enhancer in Drosophila. Development 125:949-958.