Projects per year
Personal profile
Administrative Posts
- Deputy Head, School of Biological Sciences
Career
- Professor of Evolutionary Genetics (2010 - present)
- Reader, University of East Anglia (2006 - 2010)
- Reader, University College London (2005-2006)
- Royal Society University Research Fellow, University College London and University of East Anglia (1998-2007)
- BBSRC Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University College London (1995-1998)
- SERC Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Edinburgh (1992-1995)
- Ph.D. University of Edinburgh (1992)
- B.Sc. Applied Biology. University of Bath (1989)
ResearcherID
http://www.researcherid.com/rid/E-5100-2011
Research Wesbite:
http://traceychapmanresearch.com/
Key Research Interests
I am an evolutionary geneticist interested in understanding how reproductive traits evolve and function at a mechanistic level. A core interest is in evaluating the potential of sexual selection and sexual conflict for driving evolutionary change and in understanding the underlying mechanisms involved. Fruitflies provide an exceptionally good model, with relevance to pest control, for the study of sexual conflict and sexual selection. We have studied in detail the actions of seminal fluid proteins, which evolve at exceptionally high rates and have striking, fitness-related functions.
Current Research Projects
- The genetic basis of sexual conflict in fruitflies
- Role of sexual conflict in ageing
- Regulation of seminal fluid encoding genes
- Socio-sexual responses to sperm competition
- Role of gut microbiota in driving host evolution
- Dietary adaptation
- Functions and fitness effects of seminal fluid proteins
- Genetic methods for control of pest insecs
Life in our research group
Our research uses a combination of classical and molecular genetics, life history studies and, increasingly, genomics and bioinformatics to study how male-female interactions drive evolutionary change. As well as engaging with the seminars in the School and beyond, we have our own weekly lab meetings and journal club debates to keep up to date. We work with fruitflies because of their astonishing genetic utility and ease of manipulation, but we do venture out of the lab occasionally....
PhD Positions
Click here for current PhD opportunities in Biological Sciences. But feel free to email me to discuss projects outside these areas and alternative sources of funding.
Postdocs & Fellows
I am always happy to discuss possibilities for postdoctoral work and collaborations. Possible funding routes include fellowship appliactions, e.g. EU Marie Curie fellowships, with me acting as sponsor, or grant applications with you as a named postdoc.
Collaborations
We maintain national and international collaborations, including with: Professor Mariana Wolfner at Cornell University USA; Professor Amanda Bretman at the University of Leeds; Professor Ioannis Neziz at the University of Warwick; Dr Jen Perry at St Francis Xavier, Canada.
Teaching Interests
Evolutionary medicine, genetics, behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, life history.
Research Group or Lab Membership
PhD students:
Matthew Shackleton-Chavez. NRPDTP funded. Gene drives in Mediterranean fruitfly.
Oonagh Barker. NRPDTP funded. Fitness effects of dietary choice.
Post Doctoral Research Assistants
Dr Emily Fowler. Project: Pucblic goods / Novel proteins in fertility. Funding: NERC/BBSRC.
Dr Lauren Harrison. Project: Social ageing. Funding: BBSRC.
Dr David Collins. Project: Novel proteins in fertility. Funding: BBSRC.
Research Technicians
Dr Lucy Friend. Public goods. Funding: NERC
Dr Jess Hughes. Social ageing. Funding: BBSRC
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
ESEB President
1 Jun 2023 → 1 Jun 2025
External Examiner (Edinburgh)
Deputy Chair, BBSRC Panel C Responsive Mode
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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The mechanisms and adaptive value of transgenerational epigenetic effects
Maklakov, A., Chapman, T., Immler, S. & Duxbury, E.
1/10/23 → 30/09/27
Project: Research
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I see / smell / touch / hear and therefore I am: sex differences in perception alter survival and reproduction
Chapman, T., Maklakov, A. & Rostant, W.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
30/08/22 → 29/08/25
Project: Research
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Female oviposition decisions are influenced by the microbial environment
Fowler, E. K., Friend, L. A., Churchill, E. R., Yu, D. W., Archetti, M., Bourke, A. F. G., Bretman, A. & Chapman, T., 17 Jan 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Evolutionary Biology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
Socially plastic responses in females are robust to evolutionary manipulations of adult sex ratio and adult nutrition
McConnell, N., Haerty, W., Gage, M. J. G. & Chapman, T., Oct 2024, In: Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 37, 10, p. 1215–1224 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
Costs of reproduction are present but latent in eusocial bumblebee queens
Collins, D. H., Prince, D. C., Donelan, J. L., Chapman, T. & Bourke, A. F. G., 10 Jul 2023, In: BMC Biology. 21, 153.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)10 Downloads (Pure) -
Developmental diet alters the fecundity-longevity relationship and age-related gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster
Collins, D. H., Prince, D. C., Donelan, J. L., Chapman, T. & Bourke, A. F. G., Dec 2023, In: The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 78, 12, p. 2240–2250 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)11 Downloads (Pure) -
Sex-biased gene expression in nutrient-sensing pathways
Bennett-Keki, S., Fowler, E. K., Folkes, L., Moxon, S. & Chapman, T., 8 Mar 2023, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 290, 1994, 20222086.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)3 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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Data from: Lineages evolved under stronger sexual selection show superior ability to invade conspecific competitor populations
Godwin, J. (Creator), Spurgin, L. (Creator), Michalczyk, L. (Creator), Martin, O. (Creator), Lumley, A. (Creator), Chapman, T. (Creator) & Gage, M. (Creator), Dryad data repository, 9 Aug 2018
Dataset
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Supplementary material from "Control of seminal fluid protein expression via regulatory hubs in Drosophila melanogaster"
Mohorianu, I. (Creator), Fowler, E. (Creator), Dalmay, T. (Creator) & Chapman, T. (Creator), Figshare, 10 Sept 2018
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4226339.v1
Dataset
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Data from: Sexual conflict over remating interval is modulated by the sex peptide pathway
Smith, D. (Creator), Clarke, N. (Creator), Boone, J. (Creator), Fricke, C. (Creator) & Chapman, T. (Creator), Dryad data repository, 7 Feb 2017
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.h5346
Dataset
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Data from: Manipulation of feeding regime alters sexual dimorphism for lifespan and reduces sexual conflict in Drosophila melanogaster
Duxbury, E. (Creator), Rostant, W. (Creator) & Chapman, T. (Creator), Dryad data repository, 6 Apr 2017
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.69jr7
Dataset
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Data from: Adaptation to divergent larval diets in the medfly, Ceratitis capitata
Leftwich, P. (Creator), Nash, W. (Creator), Friend, L. (Creator) & Chapman, T. (Creator), Dryad data repository, 18 Nov 2016
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.b1410
Dataset
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NERC Peer Review College (External organisation)
Tracey Chapman (Member)
2010 → …Activity: Membership › Peer review panel