Brenda Larison
I am fascinated by the myriad of physical forms and behaviors that animals display. In my research My research uses genomic tools to understanding both how this amazing diversity evolves and how to conserve it. Currently most of my work is on zebras. In collaboration with colleagues at UCLA, other institutions in the US and abroad, I utilize the extensive variation in stripe pattern in zebras in an effort to understand the function of stripes and to pinpoint the genetic and developmental mechanisms that create stripe patterns. In more conservation focused work, we have examined the impact of habitat fragmentation on population structure and inbreeding and the potential consequences of inbreeding for the stripe phenotype. In addition, we have recently developed an epigenetic clock based on plains zebras, with which we successfully aged other equids, including two endangered species. The ability to accurately age wild animals is essential to predicting population viability.