Tracing the Evolution of Venom in Scorpionfishes and Waspfishes

2011 REU Project:

Scorpionfishes and waspfishes include the most venomous fishes in the world.  For nearly 200 years, biologists have assumed that these fishes had a common venomous ancestor, but recent work has caused us to question this assumption by demonstrating that the waspfishes and scorpionfishes are not each other's closest ally.  The goals of this project are to generate a comprehensive phylogeny for all of the major fish groups nested within this toxic suborder of fishes to work out the detailed evolutionary scenario for venom evolution and loss.  The REU participant in this project will complete the DNA sequencing component of this phylogenetic and macroevolutionary question to complement the existing morphological component.  If interested, the REU participant can also explore the anatomical implications of the resulting phylogeny.  This study will not only resolve questions about the evolutionary biology of fishes and venoms, but it will also have implications for public health.

Research methods and techniques: The REU participant in the project will receive an introduction to scorpionfish morphology, fish venom evolution, and systematics.  The participant will get hands-on training in all aspects of DNA extraction through sequencing.  Further, the participant will get detailed training in phylogenetic analysis as well as the comparative methods necessary to trace the evolution of venom and the effect that this adaptation has had on scorpionfish diversification.

Curator/Advisor: Dr. Leo Smith, Zoology–Fishes