Featured Publications
Molecular Biology and Evolution of Cancer: From Discovery to Action
Somarelli JA, Gardner H, Cannataro VL, Gunady EF, Boddy AM, Johnson NA, Fisk J, Gaffney SG, Chuang JH, Li S, Ciccarelli FD, Panchenko AR, Megquier K, Kumar S, Dornburg A, DeGregori J, Townsend JP. Molecular Biology and Evolution of Cancer: From Discovery to Action. Molecular Biology And Evolution 2019, 37: 320-326. PMID: 31642480, PMCID: PMC6993850, DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz242.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsMeSH KeywordsDisease ProgressionEvolution, MolecularGenetic FitnessGenomicsHumansNeoplasmsPhylogenyStem Cell NicheConceptsEvolutionary processesMolecular evolutionary processesEvolution of cancerCancer cell populationsEcological nichesNew therapeutic modesCancer evolutionEcological theoryMolecular biologyCancer biologyCancer progressionSuite of conceptsCell populationsBiologyNicheEvolutionCirculatory systemDeeper understandingDiscoveryCancer
2022
Placing human gene families into their evolutionary context
Dornburg A, Mallik R, Wang Z, Bernal M, Thompson B, Bruford E, Nebert D, Vasiliou V, Yohe L, Yoder J, Townsend J. Placing human gene families into their evolutionary context. Human Genomics 2022, 16: 56. PMID: 36369063, PMCID: PMC9652883, DOI: 10.1186/s40246-022-00429-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman gene familyGene familyHuman genomeEvolutionary contextGene family evolutionNon-model organismsFirst human genomeGenome biologyComparative genomicsFamily evolutionDistant speciesDraft sequenceGenomic studiesGene expressionGenome sequencingSequence complexityGenomeCancer biologyUnprecedented insightsNovel discoveriesCritical roleOrganismsBiologyComparative approachFamily
2021
The somatic molecular evolution of cancer: Mutation, selection, and epistasis
Dasari K, Somarelli JA, Kumar S, Townsend JP. The somatic molecular evolution of cancer: Mutation, selection, and epistasis. Progress In Biophysics And Molecular Biology 2021, 165: 56-65. PMID: 34364910, PMCID: PMC8819680, DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2021.08.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsEpistasis, GeneticEvolution, MolecularHumansModels, GeneticMutationNeoplasmsPhylogenyTumor MicroenvironmentConceptsCancer evolutionEpistatic interactionsNeutral mutation rateCancer progressionEvolution of neoplasmsSingle nucleotide variantsMolecular evolutionRate of fixationGenetic interactionsEvolutionary biologyPhylogenetic analysisCopy number aberrationsPhylogenetic relationsNeutral mutationsGenomic dataSelective pressureSynonymous mutationsMutation rateChromosomal instabilityPhenotypic changesLoss of heterozygosityFitness landscapeClonal deconvolutionTumor microenvironmentEnvironment interaction
2018
Neutral Theory and the Somatic Evolution of Cancer
Cannataro VL, Townsend JP. Neutral Theory and the Somatic Evolution of Cancer. Molecular Biology And Evolution 2018, 35: 1308-1315. PMID: 29684198, PMCID: PMC5967571, DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy079.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptation, BiologicalAnimalsEvolution, MolecularGenetic DriftHumansNeoplasmsSelection, GeneticLvr, a Signaling System That Controls Global Gene Regulation and Virulence in Pathogenic Leptospira
Adhikarla H, Wunder EA, Mechaly AE, Mehta S, Wang Z, Santos L, Bisht V, Diggle P, Murray G, Adler B, Lopez F, Townsend JP, Groisman E, Picardeau M, Buschiazzo A, Ko AI. Lvr, a Signaling System That Controls Global Gene Regulation and Virulence in Pathogenic Leptospira. Frontiers In Cellular And Infection Microbiology 2018, 8: 45. PMID: 29600195, PMCID: PMC5863495, DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00045.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsResponse regulatorTwo-component system proteinsDNA-binding response regulatorGlobal transcriptional regulationHybrid histidine kinaseGlobal gene regulationNovel signal pathwayComprehensive genomic analysisPhosphotransfer assaysTCS genesHistidine kinaseGene duplicationTranscriptional regulationGene regulationCorresponding genesPhylogenetic analysisGenomic analysisMolecular basisMutant strainSystem proteinsSignaling systemInfection processGenesBranched pathwayVirulence
2017
Chapter One Maximizing Power in Phylogenetics and Phylogenomics: A Perspective Illuminated by Fungal Big Data
Dornburg A, Townsend JP, Wang Z. Chapter One Maximizing Power in Phylogenetics and Phylogenomics: A Perspective Illuminated by Fungal Big Data. Advances In Genetics 2017, 100: 1-47. PMID: 29153398, DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2017.09.007.ChaptersMeSH KeywordsEvolution, MolecularFungiGenome, FungalGenomicsInformation SystemsModels, GeneticPhylogenyPhylogeographyConceptsTree of lifeFungal evolutionary biologyGenomic-scale dataHundreds of lociGenome-scale analysisFungal phylogenomicsFungal treeSpecies delimitationPhenotypic diversificationFirst genomeEvolutionary biologyPhylogenetic treePhylogenetic inferencePhylogenetic analysisEntire genomeTree inferenceReview of considerationsEvolutionary problemsPhylogenomicsGenomeTreesLociCentral roleExperimental designBiodiversityDistributions of Mutational Effects and the Estimation of Directional Selection in Divergent Lineages of Arabidopsis thaliana
Park B, Rutter MT, Fenster CB, Symonds VV, Ungerer MC, Townsend JP. Distributions of Mutational Effects and the Estimation of Directional Selection in Divergent Lineages of Arabidopsis thaliana. Genetics 2017, 206: 2105-2117. PMID: 28550014, PMCID: PMC5560809, DOI: 10.1534/genetics.116.199190.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsArabidopsisEvolution, MolecularModels, GeneticMutation AccumulationQuantitative Trait LociSelection, GeneticConceptsMutation accumulation dataDirectional selectionNatural selectionMutational effectsPhenotypic traitsDirectional natural selectionQuantitative trait lociDivergent lineagesRosette diameterTrait lociHistorical selectionQuantitative traitsLineagesArabidopsisTraitsDensity traitsAccumulation dataDivergenceKey roleUltimate sourceLociSelectionOrganismsKey componentMutationsDetection of Regional Variation in Selection Intensity within Protein-Coding Genes Using DNA Sequence Polymorphism and Divergence
Zhao ZM, Campbell MC, Li N, Lee DSW, Zhang Z, Townsend JP. Detection of Regional Variation in Selection Intensity within Protein-Coding Genes Using DNA Sequence Polymorphism and Divergence. Molecular Biology And Evolution 2017, 34: 3006-3022. PMID: 28962009, PMCID: PMC5850860, DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx213.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPoisson random fieldRandom fieldsEnsemble of modelsRandom field frameworkField frameworkClustering modelHistorical demographic trendsAmino acid-altering substitutionsSelection intensityEnsembleHigh powerUniform selectionProtein-coding genesProtein coding genesHeterogeneity of selectionDNA sequence polymorphismsComparison of polymorphisms
2016
PhyloOncology: Understanding cancer through phylogenetic analysis
Somarelli JA, Ware KE, Kostadinov R, Robinson JM, Amri H, Abu-Asab M, Fourie N, Diogo R, Swofford D, Townsend JP. PhyloOncology: Understanding cancer through phylogenetic analysis. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews On Cancer 2016, 1867: 101-108. PMID: 27810337, PMCID: PMC9583457, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2016.10.006.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsMeSH KeywordsAdaptation, PhysiologicalAlgorithmsAnimalsBiomarkers, TumorCell Transformation, NeoplasticEvolution, MolecularGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticGenetic FitnessGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenomicsHeredityHumansModels, GeneticMutationNeoplasmsPedigreePhenotypePhylogenySignal TransductionSystems BiologyTime FactorsConceptsDr. Robert A. GatenbyGenome-scale dataSystems biology approachPowerful systems biology approachUse of phylogeneticsPhylogenetic analysisBiology approachPhylogenetic applicationsSubclonal evolutionCancer biologyCancer progressionSuite of algorithmsPhylogeneticsCancer data setsCancer samplesImproved therapeutic interventionRobust approachDecades of researchFundamental insightsNew toolBiologyDiverse fieldsGatenbyData setsTherapeutic interventionsEarly and multiple origins of metastatic lineages within primary tumors
Zhao ZM, Zhao B, Bai Y, Iamarino A, Gaffney SG, Schlessinger J, Lifton RP, Rimm DL, Townsend JP. Early and multiple origins of metastatic lineages within primary tumors. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2016, 113: 2140-2145. PMID: 26858460, PMCID: PMC4776530, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1525677113.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetastatic lineagesGenetic changesEarly genetic divergenceMolecular evolutionary modelsSingle genetic changeDivergent lineagesTumor phylogeneticsDivergence timesAncestral stateGenetic divergenceCancer lineagesPhylogenetic analysisEvolutionary processesLineagesCancer evolutionMultiple originsDriver genesCancer biologyCancer progressionSomatic mutationsTumor developmentEvolutionary modelsDriver mutationsChronogramMutations
2015
A comprehensive phylogeny of birds (Aves) using targeted next-generation DNA sequencing
Prum RO, Berv JS, Dornburg A, Field DJ, Townsend JP, Lemmon EM, Lemmon AR. A comprehensive phylogeny of birds (Aves) using targeted next-generation DNA sequencing. Nature 2015, 526: 569-573. PMID: 26444237, DOI: 10.1038/nature15697.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGene Expression Evolves under a House-of-Cards Model of Stabilizing Selection
Hodgins-Davis A, Rice DP, Townsend JP. Gene Expression Evolves under a House-of-Cards Model of Stabilizing Selection. Molecular Biology And Evolution 2015, 32: 2130-2140. PMID: 25901014, PMCID: PMC4592357, DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene expression evolvesGene expressionPhenotypic evolutionGenetic architectureExpression evolvesEvolutionary quantitative genetic modelsMutation accumulation linesNatural genetic variationStrength of selectionGenomic mutation rateQuantitative genetic modelGenomic data setsGene expression levelsEffects of selectionEvolutionary timeRegulatory evolutionStabilizing selectionAccumulation linesGene regulationMost genesNatural selectionGenetic variationMutational effectsFruit flyPhenotype space
2014
The peopling of the African continent and the diaspora into the new world
Campbell MC, Hirbo JB, Townsend JP, Tishkoff SA. The peopling of the African continent and the diaspora into the new world. Current Opinion In Genetics & Development 2014, 29: 120-132. PMID: 25461616, PMCID: PMC4308437, DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2014.09.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAfricaBlack PeopleEvolution, MolecularGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenetic VariationGeographyHuman MigrationHumansModels, GeneticPhylogenyConceptsAfrican diasporaModern humansHuman historyHuman migrationNew WorldDemographic historyAfrican descentAfrican continentDemographic eventsHistoryDiasporaEvolutionary questionsAfrican populationsPhenotypic variationContinentGenomic dataAfricaGeographic originDisease susceptibilityPeoplingBirthplaceRecent findingsCorresponding developmentWorldComputational methodsPhylogenetic informativeness reconciles ray-finned fish molecular divergence times
Dornburg A, Townsend JP, Friedman M, Near TJ. Phylogenetic informativeness reconciles ray-finned fish molecular divergence times. BMC Ecology And Evolution 2014, 14: 169. PMID: 25103329, PMCID: PMC4236503, DOI: 10.1186/s12862-014-0169-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCell NucleusDNA, MitochondrialEvolution, MolecularFishesFossilsPaleontologyPhylogenySequence AlignmentConceptsMolecular age estimatesMolecular divergence timesDivergence timesSequence dataMolecular divergence time estimationMitochondrial sequence dataPhylogenetic informativeness profilesDivergence time estimationRay-finned fishesTree of lifeMolecular clock methodsSubstitution rate heterogeneityMolecular clock modelBranch length estimatesPhylogenetic informativenessNuclear sequencesRecent divergenceMolecular clockIndividual genesPhylogenetic inferenceDNA sequence alignmentRate heterogeneityFossil recordSequence alignmentClock method
2013
Phylogenetic and phylogenomic overview of the Polyporales
Binder M, Justo A, Riley R, Salamov A, Lopez-Giraldez F, Sjökvist E, Copeland A, Foster B, Sun H, Larsson E, Larsson KH, Townsend J, Grigoriev IV, Hibbett DS. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic overview of the Polyporales. Mycologia 2013, 105: 1350-1373. PMID: 23935031, DOI: 10.3852/13-003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSingle-copy genePhylogenetic informativeness analysesResidual polyporoid cladeBayesian phylogenetic analysisPolyporales speciesMajor lineagesPhylogenomic datasetsAvailable genomesCorresponding cladesPhlebioid cladePolyporoid cladeNew genomesGenome dataPhylogenetic analysisSuprageneric taxonomyCertain taxaPhylogenetic systematicsGenomic datasetsIdentical topologiesPolyporalesGenomeCladeSupport valuesGenesLineagesEvaluating Phylogenetic Informativeness as a Predictor of Phylogenetic Signal for Metazoan, Fungal, and Mammalian Phylogenomic Data Sets
López-Giráldez F, Moeller AH, Townsend JP. Evaluating Phylogenetic Informativeness as a Predictor of Phylogenetic Signal for Metazoan, Fungal, and Mammalian Phylogenomic Data Sets. BioMed Research International 2013, 2013: 621604. PMID: 23878813, PMCID: PMC3708382, DOI: 10.1155/2013/621604.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhylogenomic data setsPhylogenetic informativenessPhylogenetic signalEffects of homoplasyPoor phylogenetic resolutionPhylogenetic resolutionSister cladeOutgroup taxaPhylogenetic researchTaxonomic groupsPhylogenetic inferenceAdvantageous genesGenesMetazoansCladeTaxaDiverse groupDiverse time scalesHomoplasyHaphazard samplingMammalsFungiOrganismsFungalMarkers
2012
Analyses of expressed sequence tags in Neurosporareveal rapid evolution of genes associated with the early stages of sexual reproduction in fungi
Nygren K, Wallberg A, Samils N, Stajich JE, Townsend JP, Karlsson M, Johannesson H. Analyses of expressed sequence tags in Neurosporareveal rapid evolution of genes associated with the early stages of sexual reproduction in fungi. BMC Ecology And Evolution 2012, 12: 229. PMID: 23186325, PMCID: PMC3571971, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-12-229.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSex-associated genesVegetative tissuesSequence tagsRapid evolutionCandidate genesGenome-wide patternsFruiting-body developmentMolecular evolutionary analysisHigher relative expressionFungal kingdomReproductive isolationSexual reproductionGenome scaleReproductive genesEvolutionary analysisN. discretaMate recognitionN. crassaN. tetraspermaPositive selectionAdditional taxaMicroarray hybridizationAdditional speciesN. intermediaVegetative growthA Test for Selection Employing Quantitative Trait Locus and Mutation Accumulation Data
Rice DP, Townsend JP. A Test for Selection Employing Quantitative Trait Locus and Mutation Accumulation Data. Genetics 2012, 190: 1533-1545. PMID: 22298701, PMCID: PMC3316662, DOI: 10.1534/genetics.111.137075.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMutation accumulation dataPhenotypic traitsMutational effectsMutation accumulation experimentsPopulation genetics theoryQuantitative trait lociQuantitative phenotypic traitsAccumulation dataHistory of selectionLocus effect sizesEvolutionary biologistsNeutral evolutionGenetic architectureQTL dataStrong selectionTrait lociSelection strengthDistribution of mutationsNatural selectionPhenotypic diversityHistorical selectionMolecular dataQuantitative traitsGenetic theoryQTL
2011
Taxon Sampling and the Optimal Rates of Evolution for Phylogenetic Inference
Townsend JP, Leuenberger C. Taxon Sampling and the Optimal Rates of Evolution for Phylogenetic Inference. Systematic Biology 2011, 60: 358-365. PMID: 21303824, DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syq097.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2010
Northern species of earth tongue genus Thuemenidium revisited, considering morphology, ecology and molecular phylogeny
Ohenoja E, Wang Z, Townsend JP, Mitchel D, Voitk A. Northern species of earth tongue genus Thuemenidium revisited, considering morphology, ecology and molecular phylogeny. Mycologia 2010, 102: 1089-1095. PMID: 20943508, DOI: 10.3852/09-317.Peer-Reviewed Original Research