STishkoff

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Bio

Sarah Tishkoff is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Genetics. She is interested in: Human Evolutionary Genetics examining levels and patterns of genetic variation at the genome level among modern humans and non-human primates in order to elucidate the evolutionary forces (mutation, gene conversion/ recombination, migration, drift, selection) that shape and maintain genetic variation in contemporary populations. African Genetic Diversity Project: Despite the fact that Africa plays a central role in human evolution, African populations have been greatly underrepresented in the study of human genetic diversity. Our goal is to establish a large database of genetic diversity among geographically, linguistically, and culturally diverse African populations. Global patterns of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the human genome: There is an increasing interest in identifying genes involved in complex disease (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, obesity, schizophrenia, and some types of cancer). The genetic basis of adaptation in humans: We currently know little about how changes at the genetic level correlate with phenotypic changes and adaptation to novel environments during recent human evolutionary history. Genotype/Phenotype Association Studies: For many of the individuals for which we have obtained DNA, we also collected phenotype data for traits likely to play a role in adaptation, some of which demonstrate a complex pattern of inheritance and are likely influenced by multiple loci and environmental factors. Pharmacogenomics: There are currently few studies of variation at drug metabolism genes across geographically and ethically diverse African populations. Many of these genes are likely to play an important role in metabolism of drugs that are used to treat infectious diseases in Africans (i.e. HIV, malaria, and TB).

 

URL

http://www.med.upenn.edu/tishkoff/Lab/Tishkoff/Tishkoff.html