Evolution and Developmental Biology of Invertebrates

The Duncan lab uses a combination of molecular, behavioural, and genetics techniques to address how animals respond and adapt to their environment.  We primary use insect models to  understanding the mechanisms by which animals detect changes in their environment,  how responses to environmental stimuli are coordinated at the molecular level and the evolutionary consequences of these interactions. 

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Evolution of Eusociality

Eusocial insects, like the honeybee, are defined by the reproductive division of labour; only one female (the queen) is responsible for the majority of reproduction within a colony or hive.  Our lab is interested in understanding two big questions;

1. How does this division of labour work?  how does the queen keep workers from reproducing?
2. How did this evolve? What genes/pathways and processes have been co-opted into control of this remarkable life-history strategy?
   

​Phenotypic Plasticity in Ecology and Evolution

All animals respond to their environment, but some are able to completely change their biology and behaviour in response to an environmental stimulus - this is known as phenotypic plasticity.  My lab is working to determine

1. How animals detect changes to their environment
2. How this signal is sent to the affected (e.g. the brain for behaviour or the ovaries for reproduction) 
3. How  this leads to a stable change in morphology or behaviour.

Importantly, we also want to determine how these responses evolved and if these responses can be an advantage to animals in rapidly fluctuating environments. In particular, if plasticity confers an advantage in the face of global change. 

Reproduction, longevity and the evolution of eusociality

“Live fast and die young” – Almost all animals trade-off reproduction with longevity; long-lived animals are generally less fecund than those with shorter lifespans. This ‘reproduction-longevity trade-off’ is well-documented across the animal kingdom and such trade-offs have guided our current understanding of the evolution and mechanisms of ageing. Some animals, including the honeybee, ‘cheat’ this trade-off – they have both high reproduction and long lives – so how is reproduction uncoupled from longevity in these species? 
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Evolution of Developmental Pathways

How an animal develops from an single cell (an fertilised egg) to a complex organism comprised of different cell-types and tissues is an incredible masterpiece of biology.  But perhaps even more remarkable is how changes to these processes can give rise to novel phenotypes; like wings, beetle horns or even different ways of reproducing.  My lab is interested in understanding how these critical early developmental events are controlled and the role of new and old genes in giving rise to new developmental processes and phenotypes. 

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Funded Projects

BioDAR:
Using weather radar to monitor biodiversity 

Collaboration with Dr Ryan Neely and Dr Chris Hassall  (funded by the Natural Environment Research Council).
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Mum or offspring?
who controls early development in the pea aphid?

Funded by The Royal Society.

How are flexible behavioural responses coordinated at the genomic level?

Collaboration with Dr Amanda Bretman (Funded by the Leverhulme Trust)

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 Polyandry and genetic health of an abundant native solitary pollinator bee (Osmia bicornis) 

In collaboration with the NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility Sheffield.

How do worker bees sense their queen?
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Funded by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship to Elizabeth Duncan.