Arnaud Martin

Arnaud Martin is an Associate Professor of Biology at the Department of Biological Sciences, Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, George Washington University. His research focuses on evolutionary and developmental genetics of butterflies and moths, particularly exploring the genetic mechanisms underlying wing pattern diversification and coloration. He leads the Martin Lab, which investigates topics such as Wnt signaling pathways, cis-regulatory evolution, and CRISPR-based genetic tools. His work integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and experimental approaches to understand phenotypic evolution.

Key research interests include the genetic basis of adaptive traits like iridescence, the role of noncoding RNAs in color pattern formation, and the evolutionary dynamics of genome content in Heliconiini butterflies. The lab also develops transgenic systems in Plodia moths and collaborates on projects like GepheBase, a database cataloging genotype-phenotype relationships in eukaryotes. Dr. Martin’s contributions span from fundamental evolutionary biology to educational initiatives involving CRISPR in undergraduate labs.

His recent work highlights the importance of conserved signaling pathways (e.g., WntA, Ultrabithorax) in shaping butterfly wing patterns, as well as the molecular mechanisms driving sexual dimorphism and mimicry. Social media presence includes @evolvwing and @gephebase on Twitter, alongside an Instagram lab page.