About this Class

Dr. O'Neill's research programs employ molecular genetics, genomics and computational approaches to study the mechanisms that maintain, and disrupt, genome stability with a particular focus on repetitive elements. Projects include studying: retroelement transcription and centromere function; novel small RNA biogenesis pathways; and global chromosome and genome changes during instability (such as in cancer and hybrid dysgenesis). In addition, we use a diverse set of rapidly evolving next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and novel library preparation and computational methodologies for drafting and characterizing genome sequences in efforts to establish broad eukaryotic species as models for studying genome biology. Recently, Dr. O'Neill's lab has expanded their efforts towards applying broad NGS techniques to both model and non-model systems to understand the dynamic response of the genome to environmental queues, such as global warming.