The amount of adaptive genetic variation ultimately determines the fitness of a population. We are interested in finding out how adaptive genetic variation is maintained in small and isolated populations. For this aim, we are studying the MHC genes in wolves Canis lupus, dogs, lynxes Lynx lynx, otters Lutra lutra and seals Halichoerus grypus.

Collaborators: Jouni Aspi, Rodrigo Esparza-Salas, Univ. Oulu, Lorna Kennedy, Univ. Manchester, Hannes Lohi, Univ. Helsinki, Hans Peter Koelewijn, Alterra.

PhD student (co-supervisors in parenthesis)

Alina Niskanen, Univ. Oulu: MHC class II gene diversity in Canids (Aspi, Lohi).

Undergraduate students

Antti-Juhana Kananen, Dept. Biochemistry, Univ. Oulu: MHC variation in lynx (Aspi, Niskanen).

Johanna Excell, Univ. Oulu: Adaptive and neutral genetic variation in otters (Esparza-Salas, Aspi).