Intragenomic coevolution is the process through which independent genetic entities within the same genome, such as proteins, non-coding RNAs, and selfish genetic elements, influence each others evolutionary trajectories. It is often proposed that this mechanism explains the pervasive signatures of adaptive evolution in proteins that are indispensible for organismal fitness, such as those involved in fertilization or chromosomal segregation. Furthermore, these same biological processes are frequently implicated in reproductive isolation between species, suggesting that intragenomic coevolution acts as an engine of speciation. The challenge that remains is to identify the coevolving partners and reveal the selective pressures that determine their dynamics. To this end, my research combines genome wide approaches, such as deep sequencing and proteomics, evolutionary sequence analysis, and computational biology, with targeted molecular biology and genetic manipulation. My study systems include multiple species within the genus Drosophila, commonly referred to as fruit-flies.
