Dr Kirsten Wolff
Reader in Evolutionary Genetics
- Email: kirsten.wolff@ncl.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)191 222 5626
- Fax: 0191 222 7879
- Website: http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/kirsten.wolff/
- Address: School of Biology
Newcastle University
Devonshire Building, 4th floor
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Research Interests
I have a broad research interest in molecular evolution and molecular ecology.
- What is the origin of genetic variation in populations and how is genetic variation in populations maintained?
- How do different genomes and parts of the DNA evolve in plants?
- What influences population structure in general?
- What is the influence of natural selection and gene flow on populations and species relationships in the genus Plantago?
Other Expertise
The use of molecular tools for cultivar identification
The development of microsatellite enriched libraries
Current Work
Microsatellite markers and evolutionary and ecophysiological studies in Plantago major L. and Plantago intermedia Gilib. (NERC funded) In this project we developed 30 primers that amplify highly polymorphic and codominant microsatellite markers in two closely related taxa, Plantago major L. and P. intermedia Gilib. These markers are now available to tackle many interesting problems in future projects
Genetic variation in the red squirrel: potential effects of forest fragmentation on the genetic diversity of a threatened species, with Marie Hale. The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is the only squirrel species native to the UK. The advance of the grey squirrel is gradually confining the red squirrels to the large spruce dominated conifers plantations in the north of England and to small, isolated fragments of woodlands. DNA techniques and museum collection have been used to determine genetic variation and population structure of red squirrels in the north of England over the last century. The implications of this evidence are far stretching for the conservation management of animal and plant species in fragmented landscapes such as found in Britain.
The phylogenetic distribution of crassulacean acid metabolism in the genus Clusia, with Drs. M. Hale and A.M. Borland , funded by NERC. The genus Clusia has provided intriguing model plants for ecophysiological research due to an unrivalled plasticity in CO2 fixation, which ranges from C3 photosynthesis to crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). We investigated the evolution of CAM within the genus by establishing a molecular phylogenetic framework, based upon: 1) chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences and 2) variation in sequences flanking microsatellite DNA. Phylogenetic knowledge will help to resolve the origins of CAM and the frequency of transitions between C3 photosynthesis and CAM within this genus.
Visit the Green fingers lab!
Selected Publications
- Hale ML; Lurz PWW; Shirley MDF; Rushton S; Fuller RM; Wolff K. Impact of Landscape Management on the Genetic Structure of Red Squirrel Populations. Science 2001, 293(5538), 2246-2248.
- Holzhauer SIJ, Wolff K, Wolters V. Changes in land use and habitat availability affect the population genetic structure of Metrioptera roeselii (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Journal of Insect Conservation 2009, 13(5), 543-552.
- Simeoni M, Dawson DA, Gentle LK, Coiffait L, Wolff K, Evans KL, Gaston KJ, Hatchwell BJ. Characterization of 38 microsatellite loci in the European blackbird, Turdus merula (Turdidae, AVES). Molecular Ecology Resources 2009, 9(6), 1520-1526.
- Wolff K; Houston K; Dunbar-Co S. Cross-species amplification of primers developed from Plantago major and P-intermedia in two Hawaiian Plantago species from the section Plantago. Molecular Ecology Resources 2009, 9(3), 981-984.
- Robson MA, Thomason JC, Wolff K. Eight polymorphic microsatellite loci markers for the barnacle Balanus amphitrite (syn. Amphibalanus amphitrite) Darwin 1854. Molecular Ecology Resources 2009, 9(1), 368-369.
- Houston K, Wolff K. Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for Rhinanthus minor. Molecular Ecology Resources 2009, 9(1), 174-176.
Projects
- Adaptation, migration and diversity in populations of Tribolium castaneum, a pest insect, AMADIN
Project Leader(s): Dr Losia Lagisz - Causes of variation in the adhesion of barnacles
Project Leader(s): Martha Robson - Ecological adaptation of grassland species
Project Leader(s): Dr Kirsten Wolff and Dr Roger Smith - Elucidating the Movements of Migratory Birds through the Combined use of Stable Isotope ‘Signatures’ and DNA Markers
Project Leader(s): Lisette Coiffait
Future Research
- Evolution of microsatellites in plants
- Mitochondrial DNA and nuclear restorer gene evolution in relation to male sterility and the plant 'immune system' in Plantago
- Epigenetics and adaptation
- Ecotypes and QTL mapping in Plantago
Research Roles
I am responsible for supervising and training a large number of PhD students in population genetics and molecular ecology.
Esteem Indicators
Peer Review College NERC (from 2008)
NERC standard grant panel (from 2008)
Member of the steering committee of NERC’s molecular facilities in Sheffield (since 2002 - 2007)
Expert evaluator EU proposals, Brussels
Member of the Visiting Group of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on invitation of Scottish Office (SEERAD)
Member of Scientific Board and panel of Norwegian Research Council (2007 - 2009)
Member of Scientific Board of SEERAD, reviewing grant proposals
Funding
Recent funding:
EU Marie Curie Training Site Fellowship "Molecular Tools in Evolutionary and Ecological Research, MOTIVE", PI and co-ordinator
NERC with Prof. Marion Petrie (PI): "Maternal, paternal and genetic compatibility effects on fertility and offspring growth and sex in peafowl (Pavo cristatus)"
Industrial Relevance
Director and co-founder of Bioprofiles Ltd., a biotech company that delivers
a service of DNA fingerprinting of plants for a variety of purposes, such as
tree root identification and cultivar identification.
For further information: click
on Bioprofiles