معرفی
Wayne K. Potts is Professor of Biological Sciences and Adjunct Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Utah, where his research delves into the genetics of natural and sexual selection, with a strong focus on immunogenetics and host-parasite coevolution.
Education:
- B.S., Brigham Young University
- Ph.D., University of Washington
Research Interests:
Dr. Potts’s laboratory investigates the genetic basis of host-pathogen interactions, particularly through the lens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). His work explores how MHC polymorphism influences immune recognition, odor-based kin recognition, mating preferences, and reproductive success. A central theme is the “molecular arms race” between pathogens and host MHC genes, studied via experimental evolution in mouse models. Additional research includes the fitness effects of inbreeding, the role of MHC heterozygosity under multiple infections, and the transgenerational consequences of social environment on gene expression.
Publication Trends:
Across more than two decades, Dr. Potts has published extensively on MHC evolution, pathogen adaptation, and behavioral ecology. Recent work (2013–2019) increasingly integrates genomics, transcriptomics, and experimental evolution to dissect how social and environmental factors modulate immune gene expression and organismal fitness.
Scientific Recognition:
While no specific awards are listed in the provided text, his consistent publication in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, PNAS, and Molecular Ecology attests to significant peer recognition.
Advising & Grants:
Although individual student names are not enumerated, the breadth of research topics and multiple-author papers indicate an active laboratory with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Grant support is implied through sustained experimental programs, including long-term mouse evolution studies and molecular work across vertebrate species.
Laboratory & Teams:
The Potts lab maintains seminatural populations of house mice as a model system for detecting fitness differences and toxicant effects, while also employing molecular genetic tools to expand MHC research beyond traditional human and rodent systems.
