The Regulatory Genome in Adaptation, Evolution, Development, and Disease

The Regulatory Genome in Adaptation, Evolution, Development, and Disease synthesizes insights from recent genomic and gene expression studies across organisms, from humans to plants, animals, and single cell life, exploring common roles gene regulation plays in adaptive evolution, developmental biology and susceptibility to disease. The book sheds light on gene regulation across evolutionary timelines, illuminating new areas of focus and future research. Chapters consider key elements in gene expression regulation, fundamentals of genomic alterations over time, and in response to environmental and local conditions, epigenetics in adaptive evolution, and adaptive gene regulation in healthy processes and developmental biology, and in disease biology. Throughout the book, a comparative approach is adopted across organisms to highlight common evolutionary themes and genome diversity revealed by recent sequencing and GWAS studies, as well as how this informs our understanding of human adaptive evolution. The book finishes by detailing how we can use this knowledge to impact disease outcomes and healthy human metabolism, development, and physiology. - Reviews key elements in the regulation of gene expression and modes of studying gene regulation across evolutionary timelines - Adopts a cross-species view, synthesizing recent sequencing and GWAS studies across organisms to draw out fresh meaning and highlight pathways for future research - Considers altered gene expression associated with developmental defects and disease, as well as healthy biology and physiology, and our adaptive response to disease influence

Dr. Moyra Smith is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, College of Health Sciences, at the University of California, Irvine, and in past years has held appointments at the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins University. In 2017, the UCI Emeriti Association awarded Dr. Smith the UCI Outstanding Emerita Award in recognition of her continuing research on genetics and genomics, strong record of publications, active engagement with programs in the Department of Pediatrics, mentoring of graduate students, and involvement with the CART Autism Center at UCI. Dr. Moyra Smith has published more than 100 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, Molecular Psychiatry, the Journal of Medical Genetics (JMG), and Cytogenetics Cell Genetics.