Thomas Williams

Assistant Professor
Full-Time Faculty
College of Arts and Sciences: Premedical Programs, Biology

Profile

Dr. Thomas Williams received his Ph.D. for research on the molecular mechanisms of Hox protein function during animal development while in the laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Innis at the University of Michigan. As a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Sean Carroll at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Williams studied how animal form has evolved due to changes in the regulation of gene activity during development. Now at the University of Dayton, Dr. Williams’ lab seeks to define the molecular mechanisms that translate animal genetic variation into overt phenotypic variation in order to understand the causes of individuality and evolutionary novelty.

The Faculty Perspective

To me, the University of Dayton is a special University where students, faculty and staff can have it all!  Firstly, here you do not have to make compromises, as the University is large enough to present diverse opportunities and experiences to all without being too large where one feels insignificant or without a community of support.  Secondly, while UD is at the vanguard of scientific research and professional development, this is not accomplished at the expense of Undergraduate education.

Courses Taught

  • General Genetics (BIO 312)
  • Sophomore Seminar (BIO 299)

Degrees

  • Ph.D., University of Michigan (2005)
  • M.S., University of Michigan (2003)
  • B.S., Eastern Michigan University, magna cum laude (1999)

Research Interests

  • Evolutionary Genetics
  • Developmental Genetics
  • Regulation of Gene Expression

Selected Publications and Presentations

PUBLICATIONS

Williams TM and Carroll SB. "Genetic and molecular insights into the development and evolution of sexual dimorphism." Nature Reviews Genetics. 2009 Nov; 10: 797-804.

Shirangi TR, Dufour HD, Williams TM, and Carroll SB.  "Rapid Evolution of Sex-Pheromone-producing Enzyme in Drosophila." PLOS Biology. 2009 Aug 7 (8):e1000168.doi:10.1371.pbio.1000168.

Williams TM, Selegue JE, Werner T, Gompel N, Kopp A, and Carroll SB. "The Regulation and Evolution of a Genetic Switch Controlling Sexually Dimorphic Traits in Drosophila." Cell. 2008 Aug 22; 134: 610-623. (Cover).

Prud'homme B, Gompel N, Rokas A, Kassner VA, Williams TM, Yeh SD,True JR, Carroll SB (2006). "Repeated morphological evolution through cis-regulatory changes in a pleiotropic gene." Nature. 2006 Apr 20; 440 (7087):1050-3.

Williams TM, Williams ME, Heaton JH, Gelehrter TD, and Innis JW. "Group 13 HOX Proteins Interact with the MH2 Domain of R-Smads and Modulate Smad Transcriptional Activation Functions Independent of HOX DNA Binding Capability." Nucleic Acids Res. 2005 Aug 8; 33 (14): 4475-84.

Williams TM, Williams ME, Kuick R, Misek D, McDonagh K, Hanash S, & Innis JW. "Candidate Downstream Regulated Genes of HOX Group 13 Transcription Factors with and without Monomeric DNA Binding Capability." Dev Biol. 2005 Mar 15; 279(2): 462-80.

Williams TM, Williams ME, and Innis JW. "Range of HOX/TALE superclass associations and protein domain requirements for HOXA13:MEIS interaction." Dev Biol. 2005 Jan 15; 277 (2): 457-71.

PRESENTATIONS

Beyond the birds and the bees: Molecular insights about the making and evolution of fruit fly sexually dimorphic traits.  Department of Biology, Wright State University (2010).

The Regulation and Evolution of a Genetic Switch Controlling Sexually Dimorphic Traits in Drosophila.  Evolution Seminar Series, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2008).