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Research
I am a postdoctoral researcher in the
Hayashi Lab at UC Riverside's Department of Biology.
My
research employs empirical approaches
that integrate systematic biology, molecular evolution and
ecology. I am currently investigating gene families encoding
proteins of special functional significance to spiders: silks and
venoms. Globally, spiders comprise ~39,000 described species and the
use of venom and silk proteins defines this immense invertebrate order.
The direct link between these gene families and their ecological
utility make them excellent models for investigating the role of
genomic changes in organismal adaptation and lineage
diversification. My work specifically focuses on characterizing
the sequence diversity of these proteins and determining their
phylogenetic distributions. This information is utilized to
pinpoint the origins of genes especially critical to organismal ecology
and to examine how such events relate to biological diversification at
varying hierarchical levels. A component of this work also involves the
development
of novel molecular markers for species phylogenies using genomic
resources. These interests stem from my graduate training in
systematics and evolution, primarily focusing on the diversification of
insular spiders.
Publications
In
press Garb, J.E.,
DiMauro, T., Vo, V. and C.Y. Hayashi. Silk genes support the single
origin of
orb-webs. Science.
In
press Garb, J.E.
A new species of thomisid spider from the Society Islands with a
description of
the male of Misumenops
melloleitaoi (Araneae,
Thomisidae). Journal of Arachnology.
2006
Garb, J.E.
and R.G. Gillespie. Island hopping across the central Pacific
mitochondrial
DNA
detects sequential colonization of the Austral
Islands by
crab spiders
(Araneae: Thomisidae). Journal
of Biogeography. 33:201–220 (with cover photo).
2005 Garb, J.E. and C.Y.
Hayashi. Modular evolution of egg case silk genes across orb-weaving
spider superfamilies. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences of the United
States
of
America. 102(32): 11379–11384. (Featured in “This Week in PNAS”).
2004
Garb,
J.E., Gonzalez, A. and R.G. Gillespie. The black widow
spider genus Latrodectus:
phylogeny, biogeography and
invasion history. Molecular
Phylogenetics and Evolution.
31(3): 1127-1142.
2000
Garb,
J., Kotler, B.P. and J.S. Brown. Foraging and community
consequences of
seed size
selection for
coexisting Negev Desert grainivores. Oikos.
88(2):291-300.
1999
Garb,
J.E. Unusual phenotype suggests role for homeotic genes in
arachnid
development. Journal of
Arachnology. 27(2):539-541.
1999
Garb,
J.E. An adaptive radiation of Hawaiian Thomisidae:
biogeographic and
genetic evidence. Journal of Arachnology. 27(1):71-78.
1999
Blaustein, L., Garb, J., Shebitz, D. and E. Nevo.
Microclimate and community
structure in
artificial temporary pools. Hydrobiologia. 392: 187-196.
1998
Gillespie, R.G, Rivera, M.J., and
J.E. Garb.
Sun, surf and spiders: taxonomy
and phylogeography of Hawaiian Araneae. In Proceeding of the 17th European
Colloquium of
Arachnology,
Edingburgh 1997. (ed.) P.A. Selden. British Arachnological
Society:Burnham
Beeches, Bucks. pp 41-50.
Curriculum
Vitae
Dowload
a pdf version of my CV
Media
Coverage
2005
Discover
Magazine – “Unraveling spider silk.”
http://www.discover.com/issues/nov-05/rd/unraveling-spider-silk/
2005
National Geographic - "Gene for key spider silk protein found."
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0802_050802_spidersilk.html
2005
KPCC (NPR Pasadena affiliate) radio interview:
http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media/player/kpcc/news/features/2005/08/20050815_features2
2005
ScienCentral.Com, "Spider silk strength" with video
interview:
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392671&cat=1_2
2005 Fiat Lux (UC Riverside Magazine), “The
wonderful
world of spider silk.”
http://www.fiatlux.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=857
2005
Iran Daily, August 8, "Gene sequence for super spider silk discovered."
http://www.iran-daily.com/1384/2344/html/science.htm
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