We study diverse topics in evolutionary genetics, but focus on the evolution of populations that are distributed through space, and that experience natural selection on many genes. Understanding how species adapt, and how they split into new species, requires knowledge of the effects of spatial subdivision; conversely, spatial patterns can tell us about the strengths of evolutionary processes that are hard to measure directly. Interactions between large numbers of genes are important in species formation, in the response to natural and artificial selection, and in the net effects of selection on the whole genome. The recent development of techniques for assaying large numbers of genetic markers, and indeed complete sequences, make analysis of the interactions among large numbers of genes essential.
Recent Barton Group PhD alumnus, Eniko Edelsbrunner, has produced this video introducing life in our group and some of the diverse work we do: