Ingo Braasch

Ingo Braasch is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and affiliated with the Ecology, Evolution & Behavior Program, Genetics & Genome Sciences Program, Cell & Molecular Biology Program, and BioMolecular Science Gateway at Michigan State University. His research focuses on the genomic and developmental basis of vertebrate evolution, utilizing zebrafish (Danio rerio), spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), and other fishes as model systems.

• Key research areas:
  • Comparative genomics of vertebrate transitions
  • Molecular evolution of gene families
  • Developmental mechanisms of morphological novelties
  • Whole genome duplication consequences
  • Evolution of pigmentation and skeletal systems
• Notable trends in recent publications:
  • 2025: Skeletal adaptations during water-to-land transitions
  • 2024: Annualism evolution, immunoproteasome innovations, and cross-species biomedical strategies
  • 2023: Subgenome maternal dominance, notochord gene regulation, and retrotransposon restriction
• Scientific Awards:
  • Established researcher spotlight (2024)
• Laboratory: The Braasch Lab investigates genomic and developmental mechanisms underlying vertebrate evolution, combining comparative genomics, molecular evolution, and developmental genetics to explore innovations like the teleost genome duplication and its impact on evolutionary radiations.