Dr. Ashley Byun McKay

Research in Evolutionary Biology

Gene duplication is considered to be the most important process for generating new genes. However, the evolution of such innovations and their integration into gene regulation networks is not well understood. The goal of my research program is to provide insight into how new gene functions and new gene regulation networks evolve and ultimately how they are manifested as evolutionary adaptations.

Recently we proposed the hypothesis that retention and functional diversification of duplicate genes might be a consequence of protein subcellular relocalization (PSR). Essentially PSR suggests that functional diversification of duplicate genes may involve retargeting duplicate proteins to different locations within the cell via changes in the N terminal target peptide.

Some of the ultimate goals of my research program are to:

• Assess the validity of PSR as a mechanism involved in the evolution of new gene functions.
• Uncover underlying principles behind the evolution of gene regulatory networks and molecular mechanisms of adaptation
• Understand how subcellular complexity and gene duplication has contributed to the evolution of organismal complexity

Courses Taught:

• BI 170 General Biology I (Majors)
• BI 172 General Biology III - Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Science (Majors)
• BI 395 & 396 - Independent Research I & II
• BI 397 & 398 - Internships

Publications:

K. A. Godard, A. Byun McKay, C. Levasseur, A. Plant, A. Seguin, and J. Bohlmann. Testing of a heterologous, wound- and insect-inducible promoter for functional genomics studies in conifer defense. In Press. Plant Cell Reports.  
 
S. A. Byun McKay and Geeta, R.  2007: Protein subcellular relocalization: a new perspective on the origin of novel genes.  Trends in Ecology and Evolution 22: 338-344.

S. A. Byun McKay, K.A. Godard, M. Toudefalldah, R.I. Alfaro, J. Bohlmann, and A. Plant. 2006. Wound induced terpene synthase gene expression in Sitka spruce that exhibits resistance or susceptibility to attack by the white pine weevil. Plant Physiology 140: 1009-1021.

L. W. Young, R. H. Cross, S. A. Byun McKay, R. Wilen and P. C. Bonham-Smith. 2005. Changes in the activity of an Arabidopsis HSP101 promoter located in a non-autonomous mutator-like element transposon. Genome 48(3): 547-555.

T. E. Reimchen and S. A. Byun McKay. 2005. The Endemic Mammals of Haida Gwaii. In R. Mathewes (ed.), "Haida Gwaii: Human History and Environment from the Time of Loon to the Time of the Iron People". University of British Columbia Press.

A. Tirajoh, T. S. Aung, A. Byun McKay, and A. Plant. 2005. Regulation of stress-responsive a-dioxygenase gene expression in tomato roots. Journal of Experimental Botany 56: 713-723.

A. Byun McKay, W. L. Hunter, K A. Godard, S. X. Wang, D. Martin, J. Bohlmann and A. L. Plant. 2003. Insect attack and wounding induce traumatic resin duct development and gene expression of (-)-pinene synthase in Sitka spruce. Plant Physiology 133: 368-378.

R. H. Cross, S. A. B. McKay, A. G. McHughen, and P. C. Bonham Smith. 2003. Heat-stress effects on reproductive and seed set in Linum usitatissimum L. (flax). Plant, Cell and the Environment 26: 1013-1020.

S. A. Byun, B. F. Koop, and T. E. Reimchen. 2002. Evolution of the Dawson caribou (Rangifer tarandus dawsoni). Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 956-960.

B. F. Koop, M. Burbidge, A. Byun, U. Rink, and S. J. Crockford. 2000. Ancient DNA evidence of a separate origin for North American indigenous dogs. In S. Crockford (ed.), "Dogs Through Time: An Archaeological Perspective". British Archaeological Reports (B.A.R.), Archaeopress S889, Oxford. pg. 271-285.

S. A. Byun, B. F. Koop, and T. E. Reimchen. 1999. Coastal Refugia and Postglacial Recolonization Routes. Evolution 53: 2013-2015.

S. A. Byun, B. K. Koop, and T. E. Reimchen. North American Black Bear mtDNA Phylogeography: Implications for Morphology and the Haida Gwaii Glacial Refugium Controversy. 1997. Evolution 51: 1647-1653.