Bio: Hongxin Xie (postdoc)

Hongxin Xie (2023 –) is a postdoc working on the evolution of parity modes in the common lizard model using populations of different parity modes and hybrid crosses.

 

 

My general interest is using various omic tools to study the evolution, adaptation and conservation of squamate reptiles. Squamates have great diversity of some interesting traits, such as parity modes (egg-laying or live-birth), sex determination systems (gene-dependant or temperature dependant), and tail regeneration ability (with or without). Specifically, squamates have multiple origins of viviparity and some lineages have possible reversions from viviparity to oviparity. I am interested in using genomic methods to identify the genetic mechanisms underlying the evolution of viviparity. It would be a good chance to show how evolutionary innovations occur.

    I did my PhD in at Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, mainly working on the evolutionary and conservation genomics of the Chinese crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus). I used population genomic methods to study the genetic diversity, demographic history, inbreeding, and genetic purging in natural populations of the endangered crocodile lizards. I also explored how gene loss might have contributed to eggshell reduction in viviparous squamates. I am now conducting postdoctoral research in the Elmer lab, focusing on the genetic mechanisms of parity-mode evolution in the common lizards (Zootoca vivipara).

 

Postdoctoral research assistant (University of Glasgow) 2023.1 –

PhD student (Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) 2017 – 2022

BSc in Biological Sciences (Nanjing University) 2013 – 2017

 

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hongxin-Xie

 





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