Behavioural Ecology
William Amos 
Professor of Evolutionary Genetics
Email: w.amos@zoo.cam.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1223 336616/77
I am interested in many aspects of evolutionary genetics. My early work focused on using techniques such as DNA fingerprinting to investigate breeding behaviour and population strucutre in marine mammals, particularly the long-finned pilot whale and the grey seal. Although this work continues, I have picked up and developed a number of other themes, illustrated by the publications below. These include: research into how molecular markers, and in particulae microsatlelites, evolve; some human population genetics and the development of new ways to infer historical population structure; and a current vogue, trying to find out why it is so common to find a positive relationship between genetic heterozygosity and fitness. Along the way, I have often written my own bits of software to solve particular problems. These usually exist of Visual Basic Macros for use of Microsoft Excel, and anyone is welcome to use them, with the standard proviso that I can accept no responsibility for problems arising from their use (available here). I have done my best to eliminate bugs, but this does not mean that none exist! I very much welcome feedback on how the programs work and suggestions for improvements/changes.
Personal web page including computer programs
Selected publications
- Hoffmann, J.I., Amos, W., Tratham, P.N., Forcada, J. (2007). Female fur seals show active choices for males who are heterozygous and unrelated. Nature 441: 912-914
- Amos, W. & Manica, A. (2006). Global genetic positioning: evidence for early human population centers in coastal habitats. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103: 820-824
- Vowles, E.J. & Amos, W. (2004). Evidence for widespread convergent evolution around microsatellites. PloS Biol. 2(8): e199
- Acevedo-Whitehouse, K., Gulland, F., Greig, D. & Amos, W. (2003). Inbreeding-dependent pathogen susceptibility in California sea lions. Nature 422: 35
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