Dr. Billie J. Swalla

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University of Washington
College of Arts and Sciences
Biology
Associate Professor
University of Washington
Friday Harbor Laboratories
Professional Headshot of Billie J. Swalla

Mailing Address

Box 351800
Department of Biology
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington 98195-1800
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (206) 616-9367
Fax: (206) 616-2011
bjswalla@u.washington.edu
http://faculty.washington.edu/bjswalla/

Qualifications

Ph.D., University of Iowa, Biology, 1988.
M.S., University of Iowa, Zoology, 1983.
B.S., University of Iowa, Zoology, 1980.

Expertise and Research Interests

Currently I have several major research projects in my laboratory that are complementary to each other. One project is aimed at isolating transcription factors and signalling molecules known to be important in developmental processes in vertebrate embryos and looking at the expression and regulation of these genes in ascidian embryos. Two of the genes we have cloned and are studying are brachyury T, which is expressed in the notochord in ascidian embryos and nodal, which is a signalling molecule that is part of the TGFß superfamily. Both of these genes appear to be downstream of manx and mRNA expression levels of these genes are directly correlated with manx expression. Brachyury is expressed normally in tailless embryos (Takada et al. 2002), so we currently examining expression of downstream genes in the tailess embryos.

The second major project in my laboratory is aimed at understanding the evolution of chordates. We began with sequencing 18S rDNA from urochordates (Swalla et al. 2000) and hemichordates (Cameron et al. 2000) in order to understand phylogenetic relationships of the different families in these groups. Because the phylogenetic analysis suggests that enteropneust worms may be basal hemichordates, we are studying the development of Saccoglossus embryos in an effort to understand the evolution of the chordate body plan. We have recently described the Saccoglossus species in the Pacific Northwest (Smith et al. 2003) and we show that one of these species is likely to have been introduced from the East Coast.

Other Expertise

Journal Affiliations:
2007-present Evolution, Editorial Board, Blackwell Science, Inc
2002-present Molecular Biology and Evolution, Associate Editor, Oxford University Press
2005- present Molecular and Developmental Evolution, Editorial Board, published by the Journal for Experimental Zoology, published by Wiley-Liss
1998- present Evolution & Development, Editorial Board, published by Blackwell Science Inc.
1999- 2005 Molecular and Developmental Evolution, Associate Editor, published by the Journal for Experimental Zoology, published by Wiley-Liss
1999-2001 American Zoologist, Associate Editor, published by Wiley-Liss

Future Research

We are interested in how certain gene networks were co-opted by an invertebrate deuterostome ancestor before the Cambrian to elaborate the chordate body plan. This requires an understanding of how gene networks evolve, how they are able to elaborate morphology and the many levels where selection can play a role in shaping the network.

Industrial Relevance

Both tunicates and hemichordates are capable of extensive regeneration. We are investigating the cellular and molecular nature of these stem cells to understand how they function during regeneration.

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Developmental Genetics, Embryogenesis, Evolution, Zoology.

Additional Terms:

Ascidian Development, Deuterostome Phylogeny, Development and Evolution, Embryonic Development, Maternal Determinants.

Languages

(Reading, Writing, Speaking)

French: (Functional, Basic, Basic)

Memberships

American Association for the Advancement of Science
Molecular Biology and Evolution Society
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
Society for Developmental Biology
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Society for the Study of Systematic Biology

Honors and Awards

2007-2008, Chair, Molecular Evolution Gordon Research Conference
2007-2009, President, Sigma Xi, University of Washington Local Chapter
2005-2007, Chair, SICB Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology
2004-2007, Council, SSB, Society for the Study of Systematic Biology
2002-2005, Council, Gordon Research Conferences
2001-2004, AAAS Officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Electorate Nominating Committee for Section on Biological Sciences
1996-1999, Program Officer, SICB, Division of Developmental and Cell Biology
1994-1997, President's Advisory Committee, SICB
1990-1992, NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship, NIH
1989-1990, Sarah Berliner Postdoctoral Fellowship, AAUW

Previous Positions

1997-1999, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University, Eberly College of Science, Biology
1994-1997, Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University, College of Arts and Sciences, Biology
1991-1994, Assistant Research Developmental Biologist, University of California, Davis, Office of Research, Bodega Marine Laboratory
1989-1992, Post-Doctoral Fellow, National Institute of Health (NIH), University of California, Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory
1988-1989, AAUW Sarah Berliner Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Texas at Austin, Zoology

Funding Received

  • UW Research Royalty Grant: Stem Cells and Germ Cells in Colonial Ascidians, $31,000, 2007 to 2008.
  • American Heart Association (AHA): Characterization of Stem Cells - AHA Predoctoral Fellowship to Brown, $48,000, 2006 to 2008.
  • M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust: Biological Research Equipment Acquisition for a Comparative Genomics, $499,500, 2003 to 2005.
  • UW Advance Program: Evolution of Hemichordate Cartilage, $10,000, 2002 to 2002.
  • Seaver Foundation: The Role of the Immune System in Invertebrate Metamorphosis, $225,000, 2002 to 2004.
  • UW Research Royalty Grant: Pacific Northwest Ascidians, $30,000, 2000 to 2002.
  • National Science Foundation (NSF): Automated DNA Sequencer and dHPLC Heteroduplex Analysis for Molecular Evolution and Development, $193,095, 1999 to 2000.
  • National Science Foundation (NSF): The Role of Maternal Factors in Ascidian Development and Evolution, $300,000, 1998 to 2002.
  • National Science Foundation (NSF): An Automated Sequencer for Molecular Phylogeny and Systematics, Population Genetics, Molecular Evolution, and Development, $101,316, 1996 to 1997.
  • Vanderbilt University Provost's Initiative on Technology: Integration of Computers and Videomicroscopy in Biology Courses, $20,822, 1995 to 1995.
  • National Science Foundation (NSF): Characterization of p58, a Novel Protein found in Ascidian Egg Myoplasm & Muscle muscle, $300,000, 1993 to 1997.

Publications

  • Gyoja F, Satou Y, Shin-i T, Kohara Y, Swalla BJ, Satoh N (2007) Analysis of large scale expression sequenced tags (ESTs) from the anural ascidian, Molgula tectiformis, Dev Biol, 307 (2), 460-482
  • Roberts B, Davidson B, MacMaster G, Ma E, Wallace SS, Lockhart V, Swalla BJ (2007) A complement response may activate metamorphosis in the ascidian Boltenia villosa, Dev Genes Evol, 217 (6), 449-458
  • Rychel AL, Swalla BJ (2007) Development and evolution of chordate cartilage, J Exp Zoolog B Mol Dev Evol., 308B (3), 325-335
  • Brown FD, Swalla BJ (2007) Vasa expression in a colonial ascidian, Botrylloides violaceus, Evol Dev, 9 (2), 165-177
  • Swalla, BJ (2006) Building divergent body plans with similar genetic pathways, Heredity, 97 (3), 235-243
  • Zeng L, Jacobs M, Swalla BJ (2006) Coloniality and sociality has evolved once in Stolidobranch ascidians, Int Comp Biol, 46 (3), 255-268
  • Rychel AL, Smith SE, Shimamoto HT, Swalla BJ (2006) Evolution and development of the chordates: collagen and pharyngeal cartilage, Mol Biol Evol, 23 (3), 541-549
  • Zeng L, Swalla BJ (2005) Molecular phylogeny of the protochordates: Chordate evolution, Can J Zool, 83, 24-33
  • Chea HK, Wright CV, Swalla BJ (2005) Nodal signaling and the evolution of deuterostome gastrulation, Dev Dyn, 234 (2), 269-278
  • Swalla BJ, Protochordate Gastrulation: Lancelets and Ascidians, In: "Gastrulation"; Claudio Stern, ed. Cold Spring Harbor Press, 139-149, July 2004
  • Davidson B, Jacobs M, Swalla BJ, The individual as a module: Metazoan Evolution and coloniality, In:"Modularity in Development and Evolution". Gerhard Schlosser and Günter Wagner, eds. University of Chicago Press, 443-465, 2004
  • Swalla BJ (2004) Procurement and culture of ascidian embryos., Methods in Cell Biology, 74, 115-41 Abstract
  • Davidson B, Smith Wallace SE, Howsmon RA, Swalla BJ, A morphological and genetic characterization of metamorphosis in the ascidian Boltenia villosa, Development Genes and Evolution, 213(12), 601-11, December 2003 Abstract
  • Smith SE, Douglas R, Burke da Silva K, Swalla B J, Morphological and molecular identification of enteropneust worms (Hemichordata: Harrimanidae) in the Pacific Northwest, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 81, 133-141, 2003
  • Davidson B, Swalla BJ, A molecular analysis of ascidian metamorphosis reveals activation of an innate immune response, Development (cambridge, England), 129(20), 4739-51, October 2002 Abstract
  • Takada N, Satoh N, Swalla BJ, Expression of Tbx6, a muscle lineage T-box gene, in the tailless embryo of the ascidian Molgula tectiformis, Development Genes and Evolution, 212(7), 354-6, Aug 2002 Abstract
  • Winchell CJ, Sullivan J, Cameron CB, Swalla BJ, Mallatt J, Evaluating hypotheses of deuterostome phylogeny and chordate evolution with new LSU and SSU ribosomal DNA data, Molecular Biology and Evolution, 19(5), 762-76, May 2002 Abstract
  • Takada N, York J, Davis JM, Schumpert B, Yasuo H, Satoh N, Swalla BJ, Brachyury expression in tailless Molgulid ascidian embryos, Evolution & Development, 4(3), 205-11, 2002 Abstract
  • Davidson B, Swalla BJ, Isolation of genes involved in ascidian metamorphosis: epidermal growth factor signaling and metamorphic competence, Development Genes and Evolution, 211(4), 190-4, April 2001 Abstract
  • B. J. Swalla, Phylogeny of the urochordates: Implications for chordate evolution, Biology of Ascidians; Hitoshi Sawada and Charles Lambert, ed., 219-224, 2001
  • Huber JL, da Silva KB, Bates WR, Swalla BJ, The evolution of anural larvae in molgulid ascidians, Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 11(6), 419-26, December 2000 Abstract
  • Seufert DW, Kos R, Erickson CA, Swalla BJ, p68, a DEAD-box RNA helicase, is expressed in chordate embryo neural and mesodermal tissues, Journal of Experimental Zoology, 288(3), 193-204, 2000 Abstract
  • Riemer D, Wang J, Zimek A, Swalla BJ, Weber K, Tunicates have unusual nuclear lamins with a large deletion in the carboxyterminal tail domain, Gene, 255(2), 317-25, 2000 Abstract
  • Cameron CB, Garey JR, Swalla BJ, Evolution of the chordate body plan: new insights from phylogenetic analyses of deuterostome phyla, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 97(9), 4469-74, April 2000 Abstract
  • Jeffery WR, Swalla BJ, Ewing N, Kusakabe T, Evolution of the ascidian anural larva: evidence from embryos and molecules, Molecular Biology and Evolution, 16(5), 646-54, May 1999 Abstract
  • Swalla BJ, Just MA, Pederson EL, Jeffery WR, A multigene locus containing the Manx and bobcat genes is required for development of chordate features in the ascidian tadpole larva, Development, 126(8), 1643-53, April 1999 Abstract
  • Panganiban G, Irvine SM, Lowe C, Roehl H, Corley LS, Sherbon B, Grenier JK, Fallon JF, Kimble J, Walker M, Wray GA, Swalla BJ, Martindale MQ, Carroll SB, The origin and evolution of animal appendages, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 94(10), 5162-6, May 1997 Abstract
  • Swalla BJ, Jeffery WR, Requirement of the Manx gene for expression of chordate features in a tailless ascidian larva, Science, 274(5290), 1205-8, November 1996 Abstract
  • Swalla BJ, Jeffery WR, PCNA mRNA has a 3'UTR antisense to yellow crescent RNA and is localized in ascidian eggs and embryos, Developmental Biology, 178(1), 23-34, August 1996 Abstract
  • Kusakabe T, Swalla BJ, Satoh N, Jeffery WR, Mechanism of an evolutionary change in muscle cell differentiation in ascidians with different modes of development, Developmental Biology, 174(2), 379-92, March 1996 Abstract
  • Swalla BJ, Jeffery WR, Localization of ribosomal protein L5 mRNA in myoplasm during ascidian development, Developmental Genetics, 19(3), 258-67, 1996 Abstract
  • Swalla BJ, Jeffery WR, A maternal RNA localized in the yellow crescent is segregated to the larval muscle cells during ascidian development, Developmental Biology, 170(2), 353-64, August 1995 Abstract
  • Hadfield KA, Swalla BJ, Jeffery WR, Multiple origins of anural development in ascidians inferred from rDNA sequences, Journal of Molecular Evolution, 40(4), 413-27, April 1995 Abstract
  • Swalla BJ, White ME, Zhou J, Jeffery WR, Heterochronic expression of an adult muscle actin gene during ascidian larval development, Developmental Genetics, 15(1), 51-63, 1994 Abstract
  • Swalla BJ, Mechanisms of gastrulation and tail formation in ascidians, Microscopy Research and Technique, 26(4), 274-84, November 1993 Abstract
  • Jeffery WR, Swalla BJ, The myoplasm of ascidian eggs: a localized cytoskeletal domain with multiple roles in embryonic development, Seminars in Cell Biology, 1(5), 373-81, October 1990 Abstract
  • Swalla BJ, Solursh M, The independence of myogenesis and chondrogenesis in micromass cultures of chick wing buds, Developmental Biology, 116(1), 31-8, July 1986 Abstract
  • Swalla BJ, Solursh M, Inhibition of limb chondrogenesis by fibronectin, Differentiation, 26(1), 42-8, 1984 Abstract

Profile Details

Last Updated: 8/9/2007

COS Expertise ID #696135
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