
Overview
Background
My research interests are in evolutionary quantitative genetics. Much of my research involves developing multivariate statistical approaches to the analysis of the genetic basis of complex traits, and the selection acting upon them, which are then applied to questions in statistical genetics and evolutionary biology. Many of the empirical studies I conduct use the Australian native model system Drosophila serrata.
Availability
- Professor Mark Blows is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, La Trobe University
Works
Search Professor Mark Blows’s works on UQ eSpace
2008
Journal Article
Pedigree-free Animal Models: the Relatedness Matrix Reloaded
Frentiu, F., Clegg, S.M., Chittock, J., Burke, T., Blows, M. W. and Owens, I.P.F. (2008). Pedigree-free Animal Models: the Relatedness Matrix Reloaded. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London - B, 275 (1635), 639-647. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2007.1032
2007
Journal Article
Male choice generates stabilizing sexual selection on a female fecundity correlate
Chenoweth, S. F., Petfield, D., Doughty, P. and Blows, M. W. (2007). Male choice generates stabilizing sexual selection on a female fecundity correlate. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 20 (5), 1745-1750. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2007.01390.x
2007
Journal Article
Natural genetic variation in cuticular hydrocarbon expression in male and female Drosophila melanogaster
Foley, B., Chenoweth, S. F., Nuzhdin, S. V. and Blows, M. W. (2007). Natural genetic variation in cuticular hydrocarbon expression in male and female Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics, 175 (3), 1465-1477. doi: 10.1534/genetics.106.065771
2007
Journal Article
Reconciling strong stabilizing selection with the maintenance of genetic variation in a natural population of black field crickets (Teleogryllus commodus)
Hunt, J., Blows, M. W., Zajitschek, F., Jennionos, M. D. and Brooks, R. (2007). Reconciling strong stabilizing selection with the maintenance of genetic variation in a natural population of black field crickets (Teleogryllus commodus). Genetics, 177 (2), 875-880. doi: 10.1534/genetics.107.077057
2007
Journal Article
Large body size in an island-dwelling bird: A microevolutionary analysis
Frentiu, F. D., Clegg, S. M., Blows, M. W. and Owens, I. P. F. (2007). Large body size in an island-dwelling bird: A microevolutionary analysis. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 20 (2), 639-649. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01242.x
2007
Journal Article
Genetic mechanisms of pollution resistance in a marine invertebrate
Galletly, B. C., Blows, M. W. and Marshall, D. J. (2007). Genetic mechanisms of pollution resistance in a marine invertebrate. Ecological Applications, 17 (8), 2290-2297. doi: 10.1890/06-2079.1
2007
Journal Article
Are traits that experience reinforcement also under sexual selection?
Higgie, M. and Blows, M. W. (2007). Are traits that experience reinforcement also under sexual selection?. American Naturalist, 170 (3), 409-420. doi: 10.1086/519401
2007
Journal Article
A tale of two matrices: Multivariate approaches in evolutionary biology
Blows, M. W. (2007). A tale of two matrices: Multivariate approaches in evolutionary biology. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 20 (1), 1-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01164.x
2007
Journal Article
The phenotypic and genetic covariance structure of drosphilid wings
McGuigan, K. and Blows, M. W. (2007). The phenotypic and genetic covariance structure of drosphilid wings. Evolution, 61 (4), 902-911. doi: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2007.00078.x
2007
Journal Article
Predicting the age of mosquitoes using transcriptional profiles
Cook, P. E., Hugo, L. E., Iturbe-Ormaetxe, I., Williams, C. R., Chenoweth, S. F., Ritchie, S. A., Ryan, P. A., Kay, B. H., Blows, M. W. and O'Neill, S. L. (2007). Predicting the age of mosquitoes using transcriptional profiles. Nature Protocols, 2 (11), 2796-2806. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2007.396
2007
Journal Article
The depletion of genetic variance by sexual selection
Van Homrigh, A., Higgie, M., McGuigan, K. and Blows, M. W. (2007). The depletion of genetic variance by sexual selection. Current Biology, 17 (6), 528-532. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2007.01.055
2007
Journal Article
Complexity for complexity's sake?
Blows, M. W. (2007). Complexity for complexity's sake?. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 20 (1), 39-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01241.x
2006
Journal Article
The use of transcriptional profiles to predict adult mosquito age under field conditions
Cook, P. E., Hugo, L. E., Iturbe-Ormaetxe, I., Williams, C. R., Chenoweth, S. F., Ritchie, S. A., Ryan, P. A., Kay, B. H., Blows, M. W. and O'Neill, S. L. (2006). The use of transcriptional profiles to predict adult mosquito age under field conditions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103 (48), 18060-18065. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0604875103
2006
Journal Article
Debating sexual selection and mating strategies
Pizzari, T., Birkhead, T. R., Blows, M. W., Brooks, R., Buchanan, K. L., Clutton-Brock, T. H., Harvey, P. H., Hosken, D. J., Jennions, M. D., Kokko, H., Kotiaho, J. S., Lessells, C. M., Macias-Garcia, C., Moore, A. J. and Parker, G. A. (2006). Debating sexual selection and mating strategies. Science, 312 (5774), 690-690. doi: 10.1126/science.312.5774.689b
2006
Journal Article
Predator-induced phenotypic plasticity in tadpoles: extension or innovation?
Kraft, P. G., Franklin, C. E. and Blows, M. W. (2006). Predator-induced phenotypic plasticity in tadpoles: extension or innovation?. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 19 (2), 450-458. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.01015.x
2006
Journal Article
Measuring natural and sexual selection on breeding values of male display traits in Drosophila serrata
Skroblin, A. and Blows, M. W. (2006). Measuring natural and sexual selection on breeding values of male display traits in Drosophila serrata. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 19 (1), 35-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.00986.x
2006
Journal Article
Determining the effective dimensionality of the genetic variance-covariance matrix
Hine, E. and Blows, M. W. (2006). Determining the effective dimensionality of the genetic variance-covariance matrix. Genetics, 173 (2), 1135-1144. doi: 10.1534/genetics.105.054627
2006
Journal Article
The roles of natural and sexual selection during adaptation to a novel environment
Rundle, H. D., Chenoweth, S. F. and Blows, M. W. (2006). The roles of natural and sexual selection during adaptation to a novel environment. Evolution, 60 (11), 2218-2225. doi: 10.1554/06-249.1
2006
Journal Article
Age determination in individual wild-caught Drosophila serrata using pteridine concentration
Robson, S. K. A., Vickers, M., Blows, M. W. and Crozier, R. H. (2006). Age determination in individual wild-caught Drosophila serrata using pteridine concentration. Journal of Experimental Biology, 209 (16), 3155-3163. doi: 10.1242/jeb.02318
2006
Journal Article
Substantial changes in the genetic basis of tadpole morphology of Rana lessonae in the presence of predators
Kraft, P. G., Wilson, R. S., Franklin, C. E. and Blows, M. W. (2006). Substantial changes in the genetic basis of tadpole morphology of Rana lessonae in the presence of predators. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 19 (6), 1813-1818. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01185.x
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Mark Blows is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Stabilizing selection and the evolution of genetic variance in multivariate traits in Drosophila serrata
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Katrina McGuigan, Professor Steve Chenoweth
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Community genetics in the sea: evolutionary and ecological consequences of interspecific indirect genetic effects
Principal Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Mutation-selection balance and the evolution of genetic variance in multiple male sexually-selected pheromones of the vinegar fly Drosophila serrata
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Katrina McGuigan
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
Reinforcement and Sexual Selection: Interaction and Effect on Mate Recognition
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Chenoweth
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
Patterns of Genetic Regulation of Cuticular Hydrocarbons in Two Phylogenetically Distinct Drosophila Species: conserved mechanisms of ecological adaptation and sexual signalling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Chenoweth
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
ECOLOGICAL IMMUNOLOGY OF THE ZEBRA FINCH (TAENIOPYGIA GUTTATA)
Principal Advisor
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
ADAPTIVE MORPHOLOGICAL EVOLUTION IN AN ISLAND BIRD (ZOSTEROPS LATERALIS CHLOROCEPHALUS): A QUANTITATIVE GENETIC APPROACH
Principal Advisor
-
2003
Doctor Philosophy
ASSORTIVE MATING IN AUSTRALIAN FROGS AND GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION IN MALE CALLS AND FEMALE PREFERENCES
Principal Advisor
-
2005
Doctor Philosophy
The Evolution of Predator-induced Phenotypic Plasticity in Tadpoles
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
The contribution of new mutations to genetic variation of quantitative traits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Chenoweth, Associate Professor Katrina McGuigan
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
The genetic and ecological basis of diversification
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
The ecological and evolutionary consequences of genetic diversity
Associate Advisor
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
Transcriptional age-grading of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti
Associate Advisor
-
2003
Doctor Philosophy
GENETICS OF BLOOD CELL NUMBER
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Mark Blows directly for media enquiries about:
- Evolutionary genetics
- Genetics - quantitative
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