Get to know the TAGC 2020 Keynote Speakers through our interview series.
Sally Otto
Sarah (Sally) Otto is known for her theoretical studies of how biological systems evolve. Otto investigates the selective forces acting on genetic systems (recombination, ploidy level, gene duplications) and mating systems (sexual vs asexual reproduction, sexual selection, floral reproductive strategies). Complementing this approach, Otto’s group tracks yeast as they evolve to test evolutionary theories. Otto helped found the Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution and has served as President of the Society for the Study of Evolution, among other Councils and Editorial Boards. Awards include a MacArthur Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Sewall Wright Award.
What research are you most excited about right now, and why?
The most exciting shift in the field has been the ability to open the black box of evolutionary change—being able to identify the base pairs that underlie the response to selection and to connect the molecular information all the way up to evolutionary change. That was not even imaginable when I started in the field, and it’s been amazing to see.
My lab has been working on understanding how organisms are shaped not just through changes they experience in the diploid phase, but also what happens when they’re haploids. Gametes are haploids, and all sexual organisms spend time in the haploid phase; how important is that period to selection? We’re trying to figure out how evolution is shaped by what helps sperm and egg survive and thrive—not just what helps the organism survive.
What do you like about working with yeast?
It goes back to opening up that black box. We can expose yeast to new environments, see who survives, and sequence to figure out how they survived. Normally in evolutionary biology, you start with an organism, and you phenotype to understand what traits are present and how they’re evolving, and eventually you get to genes. With yeast, it’s almost the reverse. We use the genes to understand the phenotype because there’s often not a very clear visible change to help us understand how its evolving.
I started working with yeast because you can easily manipulate ploidy, how much sex they have, and when they have it. Even though they’re a classic “model” organism, yeast are surprising. They’re less likely to do what we expect them to do than you would imagine, and as a theoretician, I love that; it makes us throw out assumptions and suggest new hypotheses and new models.
What advice do you have for early career scientists?
From the very beginning, I felt that it was important to balance my life—to continue doing sports and reading and spending time with friends and family and so on. I knew I needed to keep a balance of activities to be happy. For me, that balance was key to being a successful scientist, allowing my brain to relax and explore creatively. Something that helps me is to imagine myself in old age reflecting back on my life: what would I be disappointed about missing in life? Then I make sure to add that into the mix! I strive for balance and encourage it in my students.
TAGC aims to foster collaboration between communities and disciplines. Can you give an example of a collaboration that really helped your work?
There are so many! The work that I do is at the boundary between biology, math, and computer science, so I have always collaborated across disciplines and had students from different fields. The different skills and perspectives allow us to work on problems that we couldn’t tackle using only one approach. Math allows us to explore the intricacies of biology and to correct errors in logic, while biological experiments show us which assumptions need to be relaxed and reveal brand new phenomena. This intertwining of math and biology is what brought me to the field and continues to fascinate me.
Select Publications from the Otto Lab
Theory in service of narratives in evolution and ecology
Otto SP, Rosales A
Am Nat. 2019. [In press]
Somatic mutations substantially increase the per-generation mutation rate in the conifer Picea sitchensis
Hanlon VCT, Otto SP, Aitken SN
Evol Lett. 2019 Jun 10;3(4):348-358. doi: 10.1002/evl3.121
Adaptation, speciation and extinction in the Anthropocene
Otto SP
Proc Biol Sci. 2018 Nov 14;285(1891). doi: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2047
Haploid selection, sex ratio bias, and transitions between sex-determining systems
Scott MF, Osmond MM, Otto SP
PLoS Biol. 2018 Jun 25;16(6):e2005609. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005609
The genome-wide rate and spectrum of spontaneous mutations differ between haploid and diploid yeast
Sharp NP, Sandell L, James CG, Otto SP
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 May 29;115(22):E5046-E5055. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1801040115
Scientific Editor and Programs Manager. Genetics and Molecular Biology PhD. Follow me: @_sbay | LinkedIn
View all posts by Sarah Bay »Read more in
-
Where are they now? Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award recipients share updates on their research
Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award applications are open–make sure you submit your application or nomination of a colleague by September 30, 2024.
-
University of Minnesota researchers map genome of the last living wild horse species
The study, published in G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics, is part of larger conservation efforts to save Przewalski’s horse.
-
Congratulations to the Spring 2024 DeLill Nasser Awardees!
GSA is pleased to announce the recipients of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics for Spring 2024! Given twice a year to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, DeLill Nasser Awards support attendance at meetings and laboratory courses. The award is named in honor of DeLill Nasser, a long-time GSA supporter and National Science Foundation…
-
Carolyn Damilola: an NFS Rising Scientist on a lifelong quest to learn more
Carolyn Damilola is an NFS Rising Scientist from Nigeria doing respiratory system research and paving the way for scientists from underrepresented communities through mentorship.
-
What does a good microgrant proposal look like?
Members of the Microgrant Review Committee share their tips for a successful proposal.
-
The first piece of the facial recognition puzzle
New research in GENETICS gives a first peek at the molecular pathway involved in recognizing faces.
-
New Senior Editor Amy MacQueen joins GENETICS
A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Genome Integrity and Transmission section. We’re excited to welcome Amy MacQueen to the editorial team.
-
Block party on the zebrafish sex chromosome
Research in G3 identifies a gene regulatory block of the zebrafish genome responsible for overseeing the maternal-to-zygotic-transition.
-
Unraveling the mysteries of duckweed: epigenetic insights from Spirodela polyrhiza
Research published in G3 offers insight into the impact of DNA methylation on clonal propagation in asexually reproducing plants.
-
A microbiologist’s quest to understand CRISPR in bacterial self-defense
2024 Genetics Society of America Medal recipient Luciano Marraffini determined how CRISPR-Cas systems destroy genetic targets with precision, paving the way for gene editing technology development.
-
Unlocking mysteries of trait and disease heritability in dogs
2024 Edward Novitski Prize recipient Elaine Ostrander, a pioneer of the domestic dog model, discovered numerous genes affecting dog size, morphology, behavior, and disease susceptibility—many of which have relevance in humans.
-
GSA and collaborators Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue and Reclaiming STEM Institute launch NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS project to support culture change in genetics
We are thrilled to announce that the Genetics Society of America (GSA) is collaborating with the Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue (PGED) based in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and the Reclaiming STEM Institute (RSI) on a Leading Culture Change Through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS) grant from the U.S. National Science…
-
Daman Saluja: Navigating Science and Policy in India
In the Paths to Science Policy series, we talk to individuals who have a passion for science policy and are active in advocacy through their various roles and careers. The series aims to inform and guide early career scientists interested in science policy. This series is brought to you by the GSA Early Career Scientist…
-
A fly geneticist’s journey into discovering rules of organ development
2024 George W. Beadle Award recipient Deborah Andrew discovered new genes and pathways in Drosophila salivary gland organogenesis. Now, her work can help optimize cell secretion in therapeutic applications and fight malaria.
-
Małgorzata Gazda: How receiving the DeLill Nasser Award helped her land her dream job
Have you ever experienced an event that changes the course of your life, or in this case, your career? Małgorzata (Gosia) Gazda is Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal and in 2022, she received the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics, which she used to attend and present at the 2022 Population,…
-
Hongyu Zhao joins GENETICS as new Senior Editor
A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Statistical Genetics and Genomics section. We’re excited to welcome Hongyu Zhao to the editorial team.
-
GSA Member Julio Molina Pineda Receives DeLill Nasser Award, Shines at TAGC 2024
“At any career stage, the GSA membership is an amazing investment for any genetics professional!” Julio Molina Pineda is a PhD Candidate in Cell and Molecular Biology and a Research Assistant at the University of Arkansas, and a Doctoral Academy Fellow at the Lewis Lab. In 2023, Julio was awarded the DeLill Nasser Award for…
-
In Memoriam: Ellsworth Herman Grell (1932–2023), a pioneer of Drosophila genome engineering and annotation
Ellsworth (Ed) Grell blessed the Drosophila community through three enduring legacies: as a pioneer of chromosome mechanics, as a primary organizer and synthesizer of genetic knowledge in Drosophila, and as a graceful mentor to those fortunate to have known him personally. Ed grew up in rural Nebraska, completed his undergraduate studies at Iowa State, and…
-
Congratulations to the #Fungal24 Poster Award winners!
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the GSA Poster Awards for posters presented at the 32nd Fungal Genetics Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of judges made the determinations. Congratulations to all! Felicia Ebot Ojong, The University of Georgia My research is focused…
-
Poster presentation tips for TAGC 2024
You’ve been selected to present a poster at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March—you’ve celebrated, made plans to attend, now what? This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your research and engage with fellow members of the genetics community, so you want to make sure you’re prepared. We wanted to offer you some tips…
-
Maximize your TAGC 2024 experience
A guide to all that National Harbor & DC have to offer Are you joining us for The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March? Make the most of your #TAGC24 experience in National Harbor! We know the science will keep you busy, but you deserve to unwind and have some fun, so we’ve curated a…
-
Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Sarah Petrosky
We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Sarah PetroskyMultimedia SubcommitteeUniversity of Pittsburgh Research Interest I am interested in understanding adaptation that has been happening recently in populations by dissecting the ways that genes underlying an adaptation…
-
TAGC 2024 Early Career Award Winners
GSA is pleased to announce the winners of the early career awards presented at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024. These awards are specific to particular TAGC communities and recognize early career scientists’ outstanding work on their respective research organisms. The awardees will present their talks in keynote sessions at TAGC 2024. Don’t miss the opportunity…
-
Preeminent geneticists recognized with revamped GSA Awards
In 2022, GSA’s Board of Directors launched an audit to review the five major awards conferred by the Society. Today, we are thrilled to announce the recipients of the reimagined GSA Awards, including the new Genetics Society of America Early Career Medal. The scientists honored this year are recognized by their peers for their outstanding…
-
Fly Board funds outreach programs to spread the word about Drosophila research
In 2020, the Fly Board voted to use part of its reserve fund to support efforts to increase trainee participation as well as equity and diversity in the Drosophila community. An awards committee decides how the money will be spent each year, and from 2020–2022, the committee posted a very broad call for applications from…
-
New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2024–2026
We are pleased to announce the election of four new leaders to the GSA Board of Directors: 2024 Vice President/2025 President Brenda Andrews Professor, University of Toronto It’s an honor to continue my association with the Society by serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors. I have broad knowledge of the ongoing activities…
-
The Fly Meeting is one-of-a-kind! Dros 2025 organizers share their excitement
The 66th Annual Drosophila Research Conference promises to be a meeting rich with the latest in Drosophila research as well as opportunities to advance your career and connect with a global community of 1,400+ scientists. The organizers Todd Nystul, Michelle Bland, Leila Rieder, Amanda Crocker, and Justin Crocker are hard at work, planning a conference…
-
Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Olufemi Osonowo
We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Olufemi Adekunle OsonowoCareer Development SubcommitteeDalhousie University Research Interest Metabolomics and genomics are two distinct but complimentary approaches that offer valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of complex traits, such…
-
Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Hector Mendoza
We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Hector MendozaCommunication and Outreach SubcommitteeUniversity of Michigan Research Interest My research goals converge around the evolution of sexual reproduction. During my doctoral program, I investigated mitochondrial inheritance, a mechanism…