Tami M. Panhuis
Assistant Professor

Office: Rm. 350 CWSC
Phone: (740) 368-3859

Research interests

Courses taught

Curriculum Vitae

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Research Interests:

My research focuses on the identification and evolution of placenta proteins in poeciliid fish species. Most people are familiar with placental mammals in which there is a physical connection between the developing embryo and the mother through a structure called the placenta. In mammals, the placenta is a highly specialized structure that functions as a site of nutrient and gas exchange between the mother and fetus. What is not as well known is that placental-like structures have evolved independently in a number of different taxa, including sharks, amphibians, reptiles, and fish. Studying these structures in organisms other than mammals can lead to important insight into different evolutionary processes involved in placental evolution.

Fish in the genus Poeciliopsis (Poeciliidae) exhibit a range in live-bearing from species that retain eggs after fertilization with no further maternal provisioning to species that exhibit varying amounts of maternal provisioning after fertilization. The elaborate structures that facilitate large maternal provisioning after fertilization are maternal and embryonic tissues that exchange nutrients between the mother and the developing embryo. These tissues are termed the pseudo-placenta or the follicular placenta.

The research goals in my lab are to use genetic, bioinformatics, and molecular tools to identify and then characterize candidate genes associated with the evolution of the placenta in the poeciliid fishes. Recently, I have isolated maternal placental tissue from two species of poeciliid and have purified mRNA from this tissue. Using the mRNA, I have made cDNA libraries and I am in the early stages of sequence analysis. Once genes are identified, experiments will be designed to explore questions with respect to their evolution, such as 1) how rapidly are these genes evolving, 2) what are the potential mechanisms driving their evolution, 3) what is the function of the identified genes, 4) what genes are involved in the embryonic tissue that interact with the maternal tissue, 5) how do the maternal and embryonic proteins differ at different stages of embryonic development, 6) what are the population genetics of these proteins, 7) does the evolution and function of these proteins differ among species with large maternal provisioning vs. species with little maternal provisioning after fertilization, and 8) what are the potential evolutionary mechanisms driving the evolution of these proteins in species with different life histories?

Another projected project will be to utilize the SEM microscopy available at OWU to study and explore the structure and function of the placenta tissue across a range of poeciliid species that differ in their degree of maternal provisioning.

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COURSES TAUGHT

Click on an underlined course title to view a brief description of that course.

Human Physiology (ZOOL 325)
Anatomy and Physiology(ZOOl 251)

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Curriculum Vitae:

Tami M. Panhuis

Assistant Professor
Department of Zoology
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Evolutionary Biology (2004)
University of California, Riverside, CA
Dissertation: Population genetics of accessory gland proteins and male-female post-mating interactions in Drosophila melanogaster

B.S. Zoology & Life Sciences (1997)
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Visiting Assistant Professor (2006 - 2008)
Joint Science Department of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont, CA
Courses: Vertebrate Physiology (Lecture & Laboratory)
Introductory Biology I and II Laboratories

Lecturer (Summer 2008)
University of California, Riverside, CA
Course: Human Reproduction and Sexual Behavior

Guest Lecturer, Evolution (2005)
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Lecture: “ What is a Species?”

Mentor, Fred Hutchinson Science Education Partnership (2005)
University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Graduate Teaching Assistant (1999 - 2003)
University of California, Riverside, CA
Courses taught: Animal Behavior; Population Genetics; Human Genetics;
Introduction to Biology Laboratory for biology majors and non-majors

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POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

In collaboration with Dr. Karen Mohlke (2008 – 2009)
Genetics Department
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Research focus on the genetics of complex human traits, including Type 2 Diabetes and obesity.

In collaboration with Dr. David Reznick (2005-2006)
Biology Department
University of California, Riverside, CA
Research on the molecular evolution of the placenta in poeciliid fish species.

In collaboration with Dr. Daphne Fairbairn (2005)
Biology Department
University of California, Riverside, CA
Research on the biochemistry of water strider (Aquarius remigis) sperm.

In collaboration with Dr. Willie Swanson (2004-2005)
Department of Genome Sciences
University of Washington, WA
Research on the molecular evolution of female reproductive proteins in Drosophila.

FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, & AWARDS

NIH post-doctoral trainee fellowship, UW Genome Training Grant (2004-2005)
Five Year Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellowship, UCR (1998-2003)
Janet M. Boyce Memorial Scholarship, UCR (2002-2003)
Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Research Grant, UCR (2002-2003)
Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid (2001)
Fellowship Block Grant, UCR (2000, 2001, 2002)
Evolution and Ecology Graduate Research Umbrella Fellowship, UCR (1999)
Graduate Assistants in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship, UCR (1998-1999, 2003-2004)
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Research Fellowship (1996)

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Panhuis, T.M., M. Buchkovich, K. Molhke. (in preparation) Allele-specific differences in expression for a subset of Type 2 Diabetes associated SNPs near the JAZF1 locus.

Panhuis, T. M. and L. Nunney (2007) Insight into the co-evolution of post-mating interactions between the sexes: relatedness suppresses productivity of singly mated female Drosophila melanogaster. J. Evol. Biol. 20: 1988-1997

Panhuis, T.M. and W.J. Swanson (2006) Molecular evolution and population genetic analysis of candidate female reproductive genes in Drosophila. Genetics 173: 2039-2047

Panhuis, T.M., N.L. Clark, and W.J. Swanson (2006) Rapid evolution of reproductive proteins in abalone and Drosophila. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 361: 261-268

Zuk, M., S.N. Gershman, K.J. Lesser, T.M. Panhuis, T. Schmidt, and R.M. Tinghitella (2006) Review of “Sexual Conflict. Monographs in Behavior and Ecology” (G. Arnqvist and L. Rowe). Quarterly Review of Biology 81: 204-205

Panhuis, T.M., W.J. Swanson, and L. Nunney (2003) Population genetics of accessory gland proteins and sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster from Evolution Canyon. Evolution 57: 2785-2791
[Faculty of 1000 selection]

Panhuis, T.M., R. Butlin, M. Zuk, and T. Tregenza (2001) Sexual selection and speciation. Trends Ecol. Evol. 16: 364-371

Panhuis, T.M. and G.S. Wilkinson (1999) Exaggerated male eye span influences contest outcome in stalk-eyed flies (Diopsidae). Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 46: 221-227 [Featured in New Scientist Magazine, “Wanna Fight?” March 27, 1999]

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Panhuis, T. M. (2008) Poster Presentation. Population Genetics of female Drosophila reproductive proteins. UNC Genetics Department Retreat, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC

Panhuis, T.M. (2007) Reproductive protein evolution in Drosophila and future research projects. Seminar Series, Joint Science Department, Claremont Colleges, Claremont, CA

Panhuis, T.M. (2005) Genetic mechanism of inbreeding avoidance and isolating female-male reproductive protein binding partners. Research reports, Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Panhuis, T.M. and W.J. Swanson (2004) Identifying female receptors to male reproductive proteins. NSF Grant Conference, University of New Mexico, NM

Panhuis, T.M. (2004) Evidence for post-mating inbreeding avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster and a possible genetic mechanism. Dissertation defense, University of California, Riverside, CA

Panhuis, T.M. and L. Nunney (2004) A possible genetic mechanism for inbreeding avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster. Society for the Study of Evolution, Fort Collins, CO

Panhuis, T.M. (2004) Accessory Gland Proteins. Graduate Student Conference, University of California, Riverside, CA

Panhuis, T.M. (2004) Evidence for post-mating inbreeding avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster and a possible genetic mechanism. Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, CA (invited presentation)

Panhuis, T.M. (2003) Sexual conflict and speciation: a post-mating interaction between African and non-African Drosophila melanogaster. Society for the Study of Evolution, Chico, CA

Panhuis, T.M. (2003) “The History of Standardized Testing”. GAANN seminar, University of California, Riverside, CA

Panhuis, T.M. (2002) Acp gene differentiation between Drosophila melanogaster populations from Evolution Canyon. Society for the Study of Evolution, Urbana-Champaign, IL

Panhuis, T.M. (2001) Intra-population sperm competition in Drosophila melanogaster. Graduate Student Conference, University of California, Riverside, CA

Panhuis, T.M. (2000) Mechanisms of sperm competition. Graduate Seminar (BIO241), University of California, Riverside, CA

Panhuis, T.M. (1999) Male-Male competition in Stalk-eyed flies. Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA (invited presentation)

Panhuis, T.M. and J. Wilkinson (1997) The effect of bodysize on male-male competition in Stalk-eyed flies. Animal Behavior Society, College Park, MD

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.The Society for the Study of Evolution (1999 - present)
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honors Society (1999, 2004)
Golden Key Honors Society (1996-1997)
Animal Behavior Society (1996-1999)
Journal and Grant Reviewer for the following: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2006), National Science Foundation Symbiosis, Defense and Self-recognition (Spring 2007) and Population and Evolutionary Processes (Fall 2007)

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Field assistant on Satin Bower Bird mating behavior, New South Wales/ Queensland, Australia
Ski School Instructor, Vail/Beaver Creek, CO
Animal Husbandry Intern, Baltimore Aquarium Rainforest, MD
Animal Husbandry Intern, Cleveland Zoo Rainforest, OH
Animal Husbandry Intern, Cleveland Natural History Museum, OH
Paleontology Intern, Smithsonian Natural History Museum, D.C.

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