Liberal Arts and Sciences
McCulloch Lab
Led by Kyle J McCulloch · Biology
What we study
The McCulloch Lab studies how DNA, RNA, proteins, and other molecules work together to create traits, especially light‑sensing abilities, by experimenting on animals like sea anemones. They combine molecular biology, genetics, genomics (ATAC‑Seq, single‑cell RNA‑Seq), cell physiology, and behavior tests to link genes to traits.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Computational
- Marine organisms
- Papers
- 5
Recent papers, explained
- Identification of a conserved GNAT-family lysine acetyltransferase in Streptococcus gordonii involved in biofilm formation and oral colonization
2026 · Journal of Bacteriology
Finds a gene in bacteria that helps them form biofilms and stick to surfaces.
- Larval swimming in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is sensitive to a broad light spectrum and exhibits a wavelength‐dependent behavioral switch
2024 · Ecology and Evolution
Tests how sea anemone larvae react to different light colors.
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- In preprints: new spiralian model system unlocks potential for understanding eye evolution and regeneration
2024 · Development
Shows a new animal model to study eye development and regeneration.
- Nematostella vectensis exemplifies the exceptional expansion and diversity of opsins in the eyeless Hexacorallia
2023 · EvoDevo
Studies how many light-sensing genes evolved in sea anemones.
- Sex-linked gene traffic underlies the acquisition of sexually dimorphic UV color vision in Heliconius butterflies
2023 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Finds a gene that makes some butterfly females see ultraviolet light.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
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