Gunter Wagner

Günter P. Wagner is a Research Professor and Alison Richard Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University. His work focuses on the evolution of gene regulation, particularly in the context of developmental innovations such as the evolution of pregnancy and digit identity in birds. He holds a PhD in Zoology from the University of Vienna and has held academic roles including Chair of Yale's Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (1996–2001).

• Education: PhD, University of Vienna (1979); Postdoctoral training at Max Planck Institutes in Germany (1981–1985).
• Research Interests: Evolution of gene regulation, developmental basis of homology, and evolutionary mechanisms underlying pregnancy and limb morphology.

His lab investigates topics such as the role of transposable elements in gene regulation, the evolutionary origins of endometrial cells, and digit identity in birds. Key achievements include the 'digit identity frameshift' hypothesis and identification of genetic changes in pregnancy evolution.

• Awards: MacArthur Fellowship (1992), AAAS Fellow (1997), Austrian Academy of Sciences Corresponding Member (1997), American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2010).
• Labs/Teams: Wagner Laboratory at Yale's Systems Biology Institute, collaborating with researchers like Jeff Townsend and Arun Chavan.