Evolutionary Genetics & Genomics of Parasitic Arthropods (ticks, lice, mites)

General Research focuses on:

¨ Why do genes change places in mitochondrial genomes.

¨ Resistance to pesticides in human head lice.

¨ Genetics and molecular epidemiology of human head lice.

¨ Phylogeny of the lice and their kin.

Selected Publications:

90. Barker, S.C. & Murrell, A. (2004). Systematics and evolution of ticks with a list of valid genus and species names. Parasitology (Supplement) (NO IF available) 129, S15-S36.

Murrell, A., Campbell, N.J.H, & Barker, S.C. (2003). The value of idiosyncratic markers and conserved tRNA sequences from the mitochondrial genomes of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) for phylogenetic inference. Systematic Biology 52, 296-310 (IF = 10.257).

Shao, R. & Barker, S.C. (2003). The highly rearranged mitochondrial genome of the plague thrips, Thrips imaginis (Insecta: Thysanoptera): convergence of two novel gene boundaries and an extraordinary arrangement of rRNA genes. Molecular Biology & Evolution 20, 362-370 (IF = 6.355).

Shao, R., Murrell, A., Downton, M. & Barker, S.C. (2003). Rates of gene rearrangement and nucleotide substitution are correlated in the mitochondrial genomes of insects. Molecular Biology & Evolution 20, 1612-1619 (IF = 6.355).

Shao, R., Campbell, N.J.H. & Barker, S.C. (2001). Numerous gene rearrangements in the mitochondrial genome of the wallaby louse, Heterodoxus macropus (Insecta: Phthiraptera). Molecular Biology & Evolution 18, 858-865 (IF = 6.355).

Postdoctoral Staff:

SHAO Renfu - The University of Queensland

Students:

STEEN Natalie - PhD
COVACIN Catherine - PhD
PORGAND, Joel
CALCINO, Andrew