Ryan Gutenkunst

Our research group integrates computational systems biology and population genetics to understand the function and evolution of the complex molecular networks that underlie life. We build and analyze mathematical simulations of protein networks to probe deeper into their function than experiments can. We also analyze genomic data to undercover signatures of population history and natural selection, with an emphasis on humans. Recent projects include studying how protein network dynamics constrain protein domain evolution, testing the hypothesis that selection against signaling crosstalk shapes protein amino acid composition, and searching for signatures of natural selection in human Pygmy populations.