• My lab is interested in evolutionary genetics. My students use computer simulation modeling, mathematical models, and molecular markers to explore phenomena related to the field.

    For example, we ask questions related to sex determination: Why is the sex of many animals influenced by temperature? How does a population’s sex determining mode affect its competitive ability and extinction rate? Other studies explore topics related to multilevel selection (how evolution acts on units other than individual organisms) and population structure (the distribution of genetic variation within and between populations).

    If these types of tools and questions interest you, please contact me about research opportunities in my lab (freedber@stolaf.edu).

  • S. Freedberg – Isabella Island, Galapagos

  • Turtles in the bottom row were incubated at 25°C, leaving them with poor coordination and long righting times. Turtles in the middle row were incubated at 30°C and right quickly. Because female turtles must leave the water to build nests every year, they require more agility than males. Sex determination has evolved to produce females at the warm temperatures that benefit them most (Freedberg et al. 2001, Freedberg et al. 2004).