Dr. Sarah 'Sally' Otto | Otto Lab

Bio:
Sarah "Sally" Otto is a Killam university professor at the University of British Columbia. Her research uses mathematical models and yeast experiments to understand evolutionary processes. Her recent work has focused on evolutionary adaptation to a rapidly changing world. She launched and directs Liber Ero, a Canada-wide post-doctoral program in conservation science. Otto has more than 250 publications, and her awards include the Killam Prize, a MacArthur Fellowship, a Steacie Priz and fellowships in the Royal Society of Canada and UK and National Academy of Sciences.

Abstract:
In this talk, I will describe experiments with Saccharomyces cerevisiae aimed at clarifying the nature of and interactions among beneficial mutations.  A panel of independent adaptive mutations was obtained by exposing haploid yeast to harsh environmental conditions. The array of mutations allowing adaptation was determined by genome-wide sequencing. This panel was then used to measure trade-offs among environments and among ploidy levels, as well as properties such as dominance across environments. The implications for Haldane's sieve, the role of ploidy in adaptation, and speciation will be discussed.