Jim Morris

Education:

2002-2005	Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Genomics Research, Harvard University. Advisor: Dr. Naomi Pierce
1999-2002	Junior Fellow, Society of Fellows, Harvard University
1989-1999	Ph.D. Genetics, Harvard Medical School. Advisor: Dr. Chao-ting Wu M.D., Harvard Medical School
1984-1988	A.B. Magna cum laude, History and Science, Harvard CollegeResearch Interests

Research interests:

I am interested in functional consequences of genome organization and chromosome structure and have focused on their role in transcriptional regulation and speciation. As a graduate student with Ting Wu at Harvard Medical School, I studied a form of gene regulation known as transvection, in which gene expression is sensitive to chromosome pairing. In my doctoral dissertation, I investigated mechanisms by which homologue pairing influences gene expression. As a postdoctoral fellow, I focused on how interactions between paired homologues are controlled. The observation that homologous genes can affect each other’s expression suggests that the two alleles of a gene are not always equally expressed. I am therefore developing tools that will allow me to determine the allele-specific pattern of gene expression on a genome-wide scale. The findings have implications for transcription, enhancer-promoter interactions, chromosome structure, and nuclear organization. Because transvection involves the interaction of homologous genes, the data are also relevant to other epigenetic phenomena, such as genomic imprinting, X-inactivation, and transgene silencing, which also involve homologue interactions. In addition to looking at the effects of chromosome structure on gene expression, I am also interested in the role of chromosome structure in speciation. Currently, I am working with Naomi Pierce on a project involving several genera of Lycaenid butterflies that show some of the greatest diversity in chromosome number in the animal kingdom. I am studying molecular mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of this karyotype diversity.

Teaching experience:

Lecturer, Harvard University
Biology E-117. Introduction to Genomics (Spring 2005)
Natural Sciences E-100. Graduate Research Methods (Fall 2003, Fall 2004)
Genetics 218. Epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation (Fall 2000)

Teaching Assistant, Harvard University
Biological Sciences 50. Genetics and Genomics. Harvard College (Spring 2004)
Biological Sciences 57. Animal Behavior. Harvard College (Fall 2002, Fall 2003)
Genetics 201. Principles of Genetics. Harvard Medical School (Fall 1995)

Fellowships, Grants, and Awards:

2003-2004	Merck Core Educational Support Program Award
2004	Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, Biological Sciences 50, Harvard College
2002, 2003	Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, Biological Sciences 57, Harvard College
2000-2002	William F. Milton Fund Award, Harvard University
1999-2002	Junior Fellowship, Society of Fellows, Harvard University
1994-1999	Medical Science Training Program Award, National Institutes of Health
1992-1993	Wislocki Research Fellowship, Harvard Medical School

Publications:

J. R. Morris, D. A. Petrov, A. M. Lee, and C.-t. Wu. 2004. Enhancer choice in cis and in trans in Drosophila melanogaster: role of the promoter. Genetics 167: 1739-1747.

C.-t. Wu and J. R. Morris. 2001. Genes, genetics, and epigenetics: a correspondence. Science 293: 1103-1105.
C. D. Kaplan, J. R. Morris, C.-t. Wu, and F. Winston. 2000. Spt5 and Spt6 are associated with active transcription and have characteristics of general elongation factors in Drosophila melanogaster. Genes & Dev. 14: 2623-2634.

C.-t. Wu and J. R. Morris. 1999. Transvection and other homology effects. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 9: 237-246.
J. R. Morris, P. K. Geyer, and C.-t. Wu. 1999. Core promoter elements can regulate transcription on a separate chromosome in trans. Genes & Dev. 13: 253-258.

J. R. Morris, J.-l Chen, S. T. Filandrinos, R. C. Dunn, R. Fisk, P. K. Geyer, and C.-t. Wu. 1999. An analysis of transvection at the yellow locus of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 151: 633-651.

J. R. Morris, J.-l. Chen, P. K. Geyer, and C.-t. Wu. 1998. Two modes of transvection: enhancer action in trans and bypass of a chromatin insulator in cis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 95: 10740-
10745.

E. K. Shibuya, J. R. Morris, U. R. Rapp, and J. V. Ruderman. 1996. Activation of the Xenopus
oocyte mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by Mos is independent of Raf. Cell Growth and Diff. 7: 235-241.