Bird Vision Probe Set Published!

I am pleased to announce that my molecular tool for efficiently capturing vision genes from any extant bird species has been published in Molecular Ecology Resources. This is an in-solution RNA bait probe set, and we demonstrate that it captures genes far more efficiently than whole genome sequencing. The probe set should be used when conducting broad surveys of vision gene evolution across a large number of samples, or when depth of coverage is needed, such as in population-level studies. Using the genes isolated by our probe set, we where then able to identify some interesting parallel evolution in genes between two very divergent avian lineages--both of which display cool vision phenotypes! Once again, thanks to friend and colleague Daniel J. Field for use of this beautiful American Oystercatcher photo! See my PUBS section for the paper.