Dr John Mulley

• DPhil: The Evolution of Vertebrate ParaHox Genes
  Oxford University, 2007
• MSc: Biosystematics
  Imperial College London, 2003
• BSc: Genetics
  University of Liverpool, 2002

Evo-Devo@Bangor

My main research interest is in the way that genomic changes have influenced animal evolution and development. Current research projects focus on the GC-biased mutation in desert rodents, snake venom evolution, and the mechanisms by which the uterine environment can change gene expression in the embryo.

Comparative genomics

I have a long-standing interest in vertebrate genome evolution, especially as it relates to gene and genome duplication, and/or the evolution of novelty. Whole genome duplications look likely to have played a significant role in the evolution of vertebrates, and particularly the development of vertebrate innovations, and gene duplication has been an important factor in the origin and diversification of snake venom.

Postgraduate opportunities in this area relate to the evolution of vertebrate homeobox genes; GC-biased mutation in desert rodents; and snake venom evolution, taking advantage of recent advances in long-read sequencing and techniques for the assembly of chromosome-scale genome assemblies such as Hi-C.

Evolution and Development (Evo-Devo)

Changes to embryonic development can have major effects on adult morphology, and the evolution of developmental processes has been a major driver of animal evolution.

Postgraduate opportunities in this area relate to my current research into vertebrate axial patterning, and particularly how the uterine environment might influence numbers and types of vertebrae in mouse models. These projects would require management of rodent breeding programs; collection of embryos; antibody-based hormones assays, and gene/protein expression studies. There is scope for expansion of this research into studies of human and non-human primate vertebral variation.  

Snake venom evolution

The availability of whole genome sequences for multiple snake species is providing unprecedented insight into the processes underlying the origin and diversification of snake venom. Bangor University is one of the few Universities in the UK that maintains a collection of venomous snakes, and this invaluable resource facilitates research into the genetic factors responsible for inter- and intra-species variation in snake venom composition.

Postgraduate opportunities in this area relate to the determination of the gene and genome level mechanisms that drive variation in venom composition within and between species.

2020

• PublishedHow and why do primate vertebral columns vary? An investigation of intra- and interspecific variation and how it links to locomotor behaviour
  Payne, M., Mulley, J. & Winder, I. C., Apr 2020.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
• PublishedRunaway GC evolution in gerbil genomes
  Parcana, R., Hargreaves, A. D., Mulley, J. & Holland, P. W. H., 1 Aug 2020, In : Molecular Biology and Evolution. 37, 8, p. 2197-2210 msaa072.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2019

• PublishedA high-density genetic map and molecular sex-typing assay for gerbils
  Brekke, T., Mulley, J., Steele, K., Denver, M., Thom, A. & Supriya, S., Apr 2019, In : Mammalian Genome. 30, 3-4, p. 63-70 8 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• PublishedAre locomotive styles in primates a driving force behind intra- and interspecies variation in the vertebral column?
  Payne, M., Winder, I. C. & Mulley, J., 18 Dec 2019.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
• PublishedGreater Loss of Female Embryos During Human Pregnancy: A Novel Mechanism
  Mulley, J. F., Nov 2019, In : BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology. 41, 11
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• PublishedWhen one phenotype is not enough: divergent evolutionary trajectories govern venom variation in a widespread rattlesnake species
  Zancolli, G., Calvete, J. J., Cardwell, M. D., Greene, H. W., Hayes, W. K., Hegarty, M. J., Herrmann, H-W., Holycross, A. T., Lannutti, D. I., Mulley, J. F., Sanz, L., Travis, Z. D., Whorley, J. R., Wuster, C. E. & Wuster, W., 13 Mar 2019, In : Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 286, 1898, p. 20182735
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2018

• PublishedInbred or Outbred? Genetic Diversity in Laboratory Rodent Colonies
  Brekke, T., Steele, K. & Mulley, J., 1 Feb 2018, In : G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 8, 2, p. 679-686
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• PublishedReport of the 2017 RSPCA/UFAW Rodent and Rabbit Welfare Group meeting
  Hawkins, P., McBride, A., Paiba, G., Rose, R., Prescott, M. J., Mulley, J., Izzard, S., Ridley, D., Kappel, S., Melotti, L. & Hubrecht, R., Oct 2018, In : Animal Technology and Welfare. 17, 2, p. 75-42
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2017

• PublishedGenome sequence of a diabetes-prone rodent reveals a mutation hotspot around the ParaHox gene cluster
  Hargreaves, A. D., Zhou, L., Christensen, J., Marletaz, F., Liu, S., Li, F., Jansen, P. G., Spiga, E., Hansen, M. T., Pedersen, S. V. H., Biswas, S., Seriwaka, K., Fox, B. A., Taylor, W. R., Mulley, J., Zhang, G., Heller, R. S. & Holland, P. W. H., 18 Jul 2017, In : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America: PNAS. 114, 29, p. 7677–7682
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2016

• PublishedThe spotted gar genome illuminates vertebrate evolution and facilitates human-teleost comparisons
  Braasch, I., Gehrke, A. R., Smith, J. J., Kawasaki, K., Manousaki, T., Pasquier, J., Amores, A., Desvignes, T., Batzel, P., Catchen, J., Berlin, A. M., Campbell, M. S., Barrell, D., Martin, K. J., Mulley, J. F., Ravi, V., Lee, A. P., Nakamura, T., Chalopin, D., Fan, S., Wcisel, D., Cañestro, C., Sydes, J., Beaudry, F. E., Sun, Y., Hertel, J., Beam, M. J., Fasold, M., Ishiyama, M., Johnson, J., Kehr, S., Lara, M., Letaw, J. H., Litman, G. W., Litman, R. T., Mikami, M., Ota, T., Saha, N. R., Williams, L., Stadler, P. F., Wang, H., Taylor, J. S., Fontenot, Q., Ferrara, A., Searle, S. M., Aken, B., Yandell, M., Schneider, I., Yoder, J. A., Volff, J., Meyer, A., Amemiya, C. T., Venkatesh, B., Holland, P. W., Guiguen, Y., Bobe, J., Shubin, N. H., Di Palma, F., Alföldi, J., Lindblad-Toh, K. & Postlethwait, J. H., 7 Mar 2016, In : Nature Genetics.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2015

• PublishedA critique of the toxicoferan hypothesis
  Hargreaves, A. D., Tucker, A. S., Mulley, J. F., Gopalakrishnakone, P. (ed.) & Malhotra, M. (ed.), 8 Aug 2015, Evolution of Venomous Animals and Their Toxins: Toxicology. Springer Netherlands, p. 1-15
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• PublishedAssessing the utility of the Oxford Nanopore MinION for snake venom gland cDNA sequencing
  Hargreaves, A. D. & Mulley, J. F., 24 Nov 2015, In : PeerJ. p. e1441
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2014

• PublishedA plea for standardized nomenclature of snake venom toxins
  Hargreaves, A. D. & Mulley, J. F., 27 Aug 2014, In : Toxicon. 90, p. 351-353
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• PublishedGenomic organisation of the seven ParaHox genes of coelacanths
  Mulley, J. F. & Holland, P. W., 1 Sep 2014, In : Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution. 322, 6, p. 352-358
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• PublishedRestriction and Recruitment—Gene Duplication and the Origin and Evolution of Snake Venom Toxins
  Hargreaves, A. D., Swain, M. T., Hegarty, M. J., Logan, D. W. & Mulley, J. F., 30 Jul 2014, In : Genome Biology and Evolution. 6, 8, p. 2088-2095
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• PublishedTesting the Toxicofera: comparative reptile transcriptomics casts doubt on the single, early evolution of the reptile venom system
  Hargreaves, A. D., Swain, M. T., Logan, D. W. & Mulley, J. F., 17 Oct 2014, In : Toxicon. 92, p. 140-156
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• PublishedTranscriptomic analysis of the lesser spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) pancreas, liver and brain reveals molecular level conservation of vertebrate pancreas function
  Mulley, J. F., Hargreaves, A. D., Hegarty, M. J., Heller, R. S. & Swain, M. T., 6 Dec 2014, In : BMC Genomics. 15, 1074
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2010

• PublishedParallel retention of Pdx2 genes in cartilaginous fish and coelcanths.
  Mulley, J. F. & Holland, P. W., 12 May 2010, In : Molecular Biology and Evolution. 27, 10, p. 2386-2391
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2009

• PublishedComparative genomics of chondrichthyan Hoxa clusters.
  Mulley, J. F., Zhong, Y. F. & Holland, P. W., 2 Sep 2009, In : BMC Evolutionary Biology. 9, p. 218
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2008

• PublishedParaHox cluster evolution--hagfish and beyond
  Furlong, R. F. & Mulley, J. F., 25 Oct 2008, In : Zoological Science. 25, 10, p. 955-9 5 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article

2006

• PublishedBreakup of a homeobox cluster after genome duplication in teleosts
  Mulley, J. F., Chiu, C. & Holland, P. W. H., 5 Jul 2006, In : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103, 27, p. 10369-72 4 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2004

• PublishedComparative genomics: small genome, big insights
  Mulley, J. & Holland, P., 21 Oct 2004, In : Nature. 431, 7011, p. 916-7 2 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• PublishedTrinucleotide microsatellite loci for the peppered moth (Biston betularia)
  Daly, D., Waltham, K., Mulley, J., Watts, PC., Rosin, A., Kemp, SJ. & Saccheri, IJ., Jun 2004, In : Molecular Ecology Notes. 4, 2, p. 179-181
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

• Decoding dark DNA

  01/06/2019 – 30/06/2022 (Active)

• Differential responses of X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm to follicular fluid from the right and left ovaries

  01/02/2019 – 30/06/2020 (Finished)

• Support for attendance at UFAW conference

  01/11/2017 – 31/12/2017 (Finished)

• Support for attendance at UFAW conference

  01/11/2017 – 15/03/2018 (Finished)

• Refining husbandry and welfare of desert rodents

  01/02/2017 – 30/05/2018 (Finished)

• Mapping the gerbil genome

  01/06/2016 – 01/08/2019 (Finished)

• Gene duplication & regulation & evolution & development of snake venom

  01/04/2011 – 31/08/2012 (Finished)

• The role of Pdx2 in pancreas development and function

  01/02/2011 – 31/03/2013 (Finished)

• Resources for the study of shark populations around North-West Wales

  01/08/2010 – 31/08/2014 (Finished)