Glen Collier   -B.S., Southwest Texas State University -M.S., Texas A&M University -Ph.D., Cornell University Office: 304 Oliphant Hall Phone: (918) 631-2758 Email: glen-collier@utulsa.edu Research Interests: There are two main research foci in my lab, both reflecting different facets of the general topic of molecular evolution.  One uses the gene-enzyme system arginine kinase in Drosophila melanogaster to investigate functional constraints that may regulate rate of molecular change. This enzyme is a protein that is evolving even more slowly than the vertebrate homolog creatine kinase. One critical genetic difference between the two systems is that the vertebrate enzyme is encoded by multiple loci each exhibiting tissue or cell compartment specificity. In contrast, the Drosophila system is encoded by a single locus yet is expressed in a similar array of tissues and subcellular compartments as the vertebrate homologs. We are testing the obvious hypothesis of multiple functions constraining the rate of amino acid substitutions by critically examining the multiple roles of arginine kinase in various tissues in combination with saturation mutagenesis and molecular characterization of resulting mutants.  The second research focus in the lab is the development of a comprehensive molecular phylogeny for fishes of the order Cyprinodontidae, commonly known as killifishes. These fishes are distributed throughout the tropics and some temperate regions world wide. Some species display a unique life history trait called annualism, a complex suite of traits involving modified reproductive behavior and developmental diapauses that result in an ability to live in marginal habitats. Some members of the group also exhibit extreme examples of karyotypic modification. The molecular phylogenies we have developed have revealed new insights into the evolution of complex traits, the phylogenetic context of chromosomal evolution and new insights into the biogeography of the group  Teaching Fields: Biol 1504-Biology of Populations Biol 3123-Advanced Genetics  Biol 4213-Molecular Evolution  Biol 4253-Human Genetics Selected Publications: Murphy, W.J., Thomerson, J.E. and G.E. Collier, 1999. Phylogeny of the neotropical killifish family Rivulidae (Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheiloidea) inferred from mitochondrail DNA sequences. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 13:289-301. Murphy, W.J., and G.E. Collier, 1999. Phylogenetic relationships of African killifishes in the genera Aphyosemion and Fundulopanchax inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 11:351-360. Murphy, W.J., T.N.P. Nguyen, E.B. Taylor and G.E. Collier, 1999. Mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of West African aplocheiloid killifishes (Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae). Mol. Phyl. Evol 11:343-350. Chien, Y.C. and G.E. Collier. 1997. Biochemical comparison of arginine kinase allozymes in Drosophila melanogaster. Zool. Studies 35(4):277-287. Murphy, W.J. and G.E. Collier, 1997. A molecular phylogeny for aplocheiloid fishes (Atherinomorpha, Cyprinodontiformes): The role of vicariance and the origins of annualism. Mol. Biol. Evol. 14:790-799 Murphy, W.J. and G.E. Collier, 1996. Phylogenetic relationships within the Aplocheiloid fish genus Rivulus (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae): Implications for Caribbean and Central American biogeography. Mol. Biol. Evol. 13:642-649. James, J. M. and G. E. Collier, 1992. Early gene interaction during prepupal expression of Drosophila arginine kinase. Dev. Genet. 13:302-305. James, J. M. and G. E. Collier, 1990. Hormonally regulated expression of arginine kinase in Drosophila melanogaster. Roux's Arch. Develop. Biol. 198:474-478. Collier, G. E., 1990. Molecular evolution of arginine kinase within the genus Drosophila. J. Hered. 81:177-182.  Research Students and Projects: Carol Cox (Ph.D. candidate): Ecdysone regulated expression of arginine kinase in Drosophila melanogaster prepupae. Mike Expinoza (M.S. candidate): Phylogeography of Central American Rivulus (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae)  Donna McDonnel (undergraduate student, TURC): Phylogeography of Central American livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes, Poecilidae)  Nicole Farar (undergraduate student, TURC): Mutagenesis and sequence analysis of Drosophila arginine kinase.  Emily Scott (undergraduate student): Clonal analysis of arginine kinase function in Drosophila melanogaster.  Other Responsibilities: Chair, IACUC Director, Mervin Bovaird Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Member, Health Research Committee, Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology