Liberal Arts and Sciences
Baer Lab
Led by Charles Baer · Biology
What we study
The Baer Lab studies why and how genetic variation arises, focusing on mutation rates and the effects of new mutations. It runs evolution experiments with tiny nematode worms and measures how their traits and molecules change.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Computational
- Worms (C. elegans)
- Projects
- 2
- Papers
- 5
What we're looking for
“No, seriously, the Baer lab is in constant need of self motivated, responsible, conscientious volunteers.”
Current projects
Effects of substrate rigidity on cultured mammalian cells
Uses experimental evolution to characterize how cell‑substrate stiffness influences cell behavior and molecular traits.
Evolution of the rate, molecular spectrum, and fitness effects of mutation under minimal selection
Studies how mutation properties change when selection pressure is low in the nematode C. elegans.
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Evolution of the rate, molecular spectrum, and fitness effects of mutation under minimal selection in Caenorhabditis elegans
2026 · Genetics
Studies mutation rates and effects in worms under minimal selection over many generations.
- High Rate of Mutation and Efficient Removal by Selection of Structural Variants From Natural Populations of Caenorhabditis Elegans
2026 · Genome Biology and Evolution
Estimates structural variant mutation rates in worms using long-read sequencing.
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- Cumulative effects of mutation and selection on susceptibility to bacterial pathogens in Caenorhabditis elegans
2025 · Evolution
Examines genetic factors affecting worm survival to different bacteria.
- Pervasive Conservation of Intron Number and Other Genetic Elements Revealed by a Chromosome-level Genome Assembly of the Hyper-polymorphic Nematode Caenorhabditis brenneri
2025 · Genome Biology and Evolution
Assembles and compares the genome of a highly diverse worm species.
- Genetic variation drives cancer cell adaptation to ECM stiffness
2024 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Tests how genetic variation in cancer cells adapts to different tissue stiffness.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
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