Transposons as a means for rapid evolution of a complex organ

The project aims to assess the role of transposons in the complex changes required for the evolution of a placenta, a new organ that has evolved more than 100 times vertebrates including our own ancestors. The project will use new genomic resources, genomic techniques, and gene manipulation to provide a mechanistic understanding of how changes in the expression of genes can support the evolution of a placenta. Expected outcomes of this project include a new understanding of how complex organs originate and evolve in animals. This will benefit society because it provides a deep understanding of our own evolutionary history and provides a framework for future studies to investigate the origin and evolution of organs more broadly in animals.