Mark D. Rausher

John Carlisle Kilgo Distinguished Professor of Biology

Office: 
Room 3326 French Family Science Center, Durham, NC 27708
Campus Box: 
Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708-0338
Phone: 
(919) 684-2295
Email: 
mrausher@duke.edu
Mark D. Rausher
We investigate the evolutionary processes that cause change at both the phenotypic and genetic levels. We have particular interests in the genetic basis of adaptation and in the evolution of metabolic pathways. Our approaches include molecular dissection of ecologically important phenotypes and characterizing patterns of selection acting on those phenotypes under natural conditions. For more information, please visit the Rausher lab web site.

Education

  • Ph.D., Cornell University 1978

  • B.A., The University of Chicago 1973

Rausher, M. D. “The evolution of flavonoids and their genes.” In The Science of Flavonoids, 175–211, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-28822-2_7. Full Text

Rausher, M. D. “Natural selection and the evolution of plant-insect interactions.” In Evolutionary Perspectives in Insect Chemical Ecology, edited by B. D. Roitberg and M. B. Isman, 20–88. NY: Routledge, Chapman, and Hall, 1992.

Papaj, D. R., and M. D. Rausher. “Individual variation in host location by phytophagous insects.” In Herbivore Insects: Host Seeking Behavior and Mechanisms, edited by S. Ahmad, 77–124. NY: Academic Press, 1983.

Rausher, M. D., and D. R. Papaj. “Individual variation in host location by phytophagous insects.” In Herbivore Insects: Host Seeking Behavior and Mechanisms, edited by S. Ahmad, 77–124. NY: Academic Press, 1983.

Rausher, M. D. “The Ecology of host selection behavior in phytophagous insects.” In Variable Plants and Herbivores in Natural and Managed Systems., edited by R. F. Denno and M. S. McClure, 223–57. NY: Academic press, 1983.

Rausher, M. D. “The Ecology of host selection behavior in phytophagous insects.” In Variable Plants and Herbivores in Natural and Managed Systems, edited by R. F. Denno and M. S. McClure, 223–57. NY: Academic Press, 1983.

Ohsaki, Naota, Masaaki Ohata, Yoshibumi Sato, and Mark D. Rausher. “Host Plant Choice Determined by Reproductive Interference between Closely Related Butterflies.” The American Naturalist 196, no. 4 (October 2020): 512–23. https://doi.org/10.1086/710211. Full Text

Lin, Rong-Chien, and Mark D. Rausher. “R2R3-MYB genes control petal pigmentation patterning in Clarkia gracilis ssp. sonomensis (Onagraceae).” The New Phytologist, September 3, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16908. Full Text

Feng, Chao, Jing Wang, Lingqing Wu, Hanghui Kong, Lihua Yang, Chen Feng, Kai Wang, Mark Rausher, and Ming Kang. “The genome of a cave plant, Primulina huaijiensis, provides insights into adaptation to limestone karst habitats.” The New Phytologist 227, no. 4 (August 2020): 1249–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16588. Full Text

Jiang, Peng, and Mark Rausher. “Retraction Note: Two genetic changes in cis-regulatory elements caused evolution of petal spot position in Clarkia.” Nature Plants 6, no. 7 (July 2020): 898. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-020-0728-x. Full Text

Duncan, Tanya M., and Mark D. Rausher. “Selection favors loss of floral pigmentation in a highly selfing morning glory.” Plos One 15, no. 4 (January 2020): e0231263. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231263. Full Text

Muñoz-Rodríguez, Pablo, Tom Carruthers, John R. I. Wood, Bethany R. M. Williams, Kevin Weitemier, Brent Kronmiller, Zoë Goodwin, et al. “A taxonomic monograph of Ipomoea integrated across phylogenetic scales.” Nature Plants 5, no. 11 (November 11, 2019): 1136–44. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-019-0535-4. Full Text

Rifkin, Joanna L., Irene T. Liao, Allan S. Castillo, and Mark D. Rausher. “Multiple aspects of the selfing syndrome of the morning glory Ipomoea lacunosa evolved in response to selection: A Qst-Fst comparison.” Ecology and Evolution 9, no. 13 (July 2019): 7712–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5329. Full Text

Feng, Chen, Chao Feng, Lihua Yang, Ming Kang, and Mark D. Rausher. “Genetic architecture of quantitative flower and leaf traits in a pair of sympatric sister species of Primulina.” Heredity 122, no. 6 (June 2019): 864–76. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41437-018-0170-2. Full Text

Rifkin, Joanna L., Allan S. Castillo, Irene T. Liao, and Mark D. Rausher. “Gene flow, divergent selection and resistance to introgression in two species of morning glories (Ipomoea).” Molecular Ecology 28, no. 7 (April 13, 2019): 1709–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.14945. Full Text

Wessinger, Carolyn A., John K. Kelly, Peng Jiang, Mark D. Rausher, and Lena C. Hileman. “SNP-skimming: A fast approach to map loci generating quantitative variation in natural populations.” Molecular Ecology Resources 18, no. 6 (November 2018): 1402–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.12930. Full Text

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Selected Grants

Genetic and Genomics Training Grant awarded by National Institutes of Health (Mentor). 2020 to 2025

Collaborative Proposal:Dimensions: The Evolution of Pollination Syndrome Diversity in Penstemon awarded by National Science Foundation (Principal Investigator). 2015 to 2021

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Genetics and Development of Parallel Pollination System Evolution in Penstemon awarded by National Science Foundation (Principal Investigator). 2016 to 2021

Genetics Training Grant awarded by National Institutes of Health (Mentor). 1979 to 2020

DISSERTATION RESEARCH: How is the Selfing Syndrome Assembled? A Common Garden Fitness Study of its Component Parts awarded by National Science Foundation (Principal Investigator). 2015 to 2017

Genetics and Evolution of Reproductive Character Displacement in Phlox drumondii awarded by National Science Foundation (Principal Investigator). 2009 to 2016

DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Genetic basis of parallel flower color shifts in Penstemon awarded by National Science Foundation (Principal Investigator). 2010 to 2012

Evolutionary genetics of flower color in lochroma (Solanaceae) awarded by National Institutes of Health (Principal Investigator). 2007 to 2010

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