May 9 2006: Dr. Leo Beukeboom
May 9th, 2006
Dr. Leo Beukeboom
(Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen)
Sex allocation and sex determination in the parasitic wasp Nasonia
Abstract
Nasonia parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) have been used for genetic and evolutionary studies for over 60 years culminating in its genome being sequenced at this moment. They are easy to culture and their haplodiploid mode of reproduction (haploid males, diploid females) facilitates genetic analyses. I will first describe how Nasonia has been extensively used to test sex allocation theory. I will present some new data on interspecific sex ratio responses. Since sex allocation studies are largely confined to laboratory conditions we set out to collect sex ratio and population genetic data from field populations. In the second half of my talk I will focus on the genetic basis of sex determination which is still not elucidated. I will discuss results obtained from crosses with a polyploid and a gynandromorphic mutant.
Relevant publications
Beukeboom, L.W. & Kamping, A. (2006a) No patrigenes required for femaleness in the haplodiploid wasp Nasonia vitripennis. Genetics 172, 981-989.
Van Wilgenburg, E., Driessen, G. & Beukeboom, L.W. (2006b) Single locus Complementary Sex Determination in Hymenoptera: an "unintelligent" design? Front Zool. 3, 1-15
Shuker, D.M., Sykes, E.M., Browning, L.E., Beukeboom, L.W. & West, S.A. (2006c) Male influence on sex allocation in the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 59, 829-835.
Curriculum vitae
- 2001: Full professor at the Evolutionary Genetics Group of the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Evolutionary genetics of reproductive systems
- 1997-2002: Research fellow of the Royal Dutch Academy of Science at the section Animal Ecology of the Institute of Evolutionary and Ecological Sciences of the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. Evolutionary genetics of sex determining mechanisms in Hymenoptera
- 1992-1997: Research associate at the Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltens-physiologie, Seewiesen, Germany. Evolutionary genetics of reproductive biology of flatworms (Turbellaria)
- 1992: Ph.D. Biology, specialization Evolutionary Genetics, University of Rochester, NY, USA
- 1988-1992: Graduate student at the Department of Biology, University of Rochester, NY, USA (Supervisor: Dr. J.H. Werren). Population dynamics and genetics of the parasitic PSR chromosome in Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera).
- 1990: Master's (M.Sc.) degree Biology, specialization Evolutionary Genetics, University of Rochester, NY, USA
- 1987-1988: Fulbright fellow at the Department of Biology, University of Rochester, NY, USA. Population dynamics of the parasitic PSR chromosome in Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera)
- 1987: Master's degree Biology ("Doctorandus"), cum laude, specialization Animal Ecology, Ethology and Population Genetics, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
- 1984: Bachelor's degree Biology ("Kandidaats"), University of Groningen, the Netherlands
