Dr Maria Daniela Santos Nunes

Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary and Developmental Biology

School of Biological and Medical Sciences

Teaching and supervision

Courses

Biological Sciences (BSc (Hons), MBiol)

Modules taught

Undergraduate

Level 4

The Practicing Scientist (BIOL4004)
Research Methods for Biology and Environmental Sciences (BIOL5013)

Level 5

Molecular Biology (module leader) (BIOL5014)
Genetics (module leader) (BIOL5015)

Level 6

Advanced Genetics and Genomics (BIOL6011)
Animal Neurobiology and Behaviour (module leader) (BIOL6012)
Evolution and Animal Development (BIOL6005)
Project (BIOS6010)
Independent Study in Life Sciences (BIOL6009)

Supervision

Master students

Evelyne Mann (Vetmed Uni, Vienna, 2009)
Victoria Steinmann (Vetmed Uni, Vienna, 2011)

PhD students

Luis Baudouin Gonzalez (second supervisor, Oxford Brookes University, ongoing)
Abigail Bailey (second supervisor, Oxford Brookes University, ongoing)
Anna Schönauer (second supervisor, Oxford Brookes University, 2013-2016)
Christian Bonatto Paese (second supervisor, Oxford Brookes University, 2015-2018)
Michaela Holzem (second supervisor, Oxford Brookes University, 2015-2019)
Joanna Hagen (main supervisor, Oxford Brookes University, 2015-2019)

PostDocs

Dr. Rachel Wade (co-supervisor, main supervisor: Professor Tim Shreeve)

Research Students

Name	Thesis title	Completed
Amber Ridgway	Using evolution to uncover development in Drosophila male genitalia	2023

Research

I am the leader of the "Phenotypic Evolution and Adaptation" research group. We are an Evolutionary Biology Group with a particular focus on Molecular evolution, Population Genetics and Evolutionary Developmental Biology.

Currently, our research aims to provide a better understanding of the genetic basis of complex quantitative traits and the evolutionary processes responsible for their evolution.

Research grants and awards

September 2015- September 2018. Nigel Groome Research Studentship to sponsor Joanna Hagen PhD work.
January 2015- December 2017. ‘Characterising the genetic architecture and fitness effects of rapid morphological diversification.’ NERC. £417,670. (as Researcher Co-investigator)

Centres and institutes

Ecology and Evolution

Groups

Phenotypic Evolution and Adaptation

Projects as Principal Investigator, or Lead Academic if project is led by another Institution

Investigating the specification and evolution of organ size in Drosophila (led by University of Durham) (01/02/2023 - 31/03/2026), funded by: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), funding amount received by Brookes: £85,349

Publications

Journal articles

Nunes MDS, McGregor AP, Developmental evolution in fast-forward: insect male genital diversification
Trends in Genetics [online first] (2024) ISSN: 0168-9525 eISSN: 1362-4555 Developmental evolution in fast-forward: insect male genital diversification Open Access version on RADAR
Ridgway Amber M., Hood Emily J., Jimenez Javier Figueras, Nunes Maria D.S., McGregor Alistair P., Sox21b underlies the rapid diversification of a novel male genital structure between Drosophila species
Current Biology 34 (5) (2024) pp.1114-1121 ISSN: 0960-9822 eISSN: 1879-0445 Sox21b underlies the rapid diversification of a novel male genital structure between Drosophila species Open Access version on RADAR
Hagen JFD, Mendes CC, Booth SR, Figueras Jimenez J, Tanaka KM, Franke FA, Baudouin-Gonzalez L, Ridgway AM, Arif S, Nunes MDS, McGregor AP., Correction to: Unraveling the Genetic Basis for the Rapid Diversification of Male Genitalia between <i>Drosophila</i> Species
Molecular Biology and Evolution 39 (2022) ISSN: 0737-4038 eISSN: 1537-1719 Correction to: Unraveling the Genetic Basis for the Rapid Diversification of Male Genitalia between <i>Drosophila</i> Species Open Access version on RADAR
McQueen EW, Afkhami M, Atallah J, Belote JM, Gompel N, Heifetz Y, Kamimura Y, Kornhauser SC, Masly JP, O’Grady P, Peláez J, Rebeiz M, Rice G, Sánchez-Herrero E, Nunes MDS, Rampasso AS, Schnakenberg SL, Siegal ML, Takahashi A, Tanaka KM, Turetzek N, Zelinger E, Courtier-Orgogozo V, Toda MJ, Wolfner MF, Yassin A, A standardized nomenclature and atlas of the female terminalia of Drosophila melanogaster
Fly 16 (1) (2022) pp.128-151 ISSN: 1933-6934 eISSN: 1933-6942
Arif S, Gerth M, Hone-Millard WG, Santos Nunes MD, Dapporto L, Shreeve TG, Evidence for multiple colonisations and Wolbachia infections shaping the genetic structure of the widespread butterfly Polyommatus icarus in the British Isles
Molecular Ecology 30 (20) (2021) pp.5196-5213 ISSN: 0962-1083 eISSN: 1365-294X Evidence for multiple colonisations and Wolbachia infections shaping the genetic structure of the widespread butterfly Polyommatus icarus in the British Isles Open Access version on RADAR
Finet C, Kassner VA, Carvalho AB, Chung H, Day JP, Day S, Delaney EK, De Ré FC, Dufour HD, Dupim E, Izumitani HF, Gautério TB, Justen J, Katoh T, Kopp A, Koshikawa S, Longdon B, Loreto EL, Nunes MDS, Raja KKB, Rebeiz M, Ritchie MG, Saakyan G, Sneddon T, Teramoto M, Tyukmaeva V, Vanderlinde T, Wey EE, Werner T, Williams TM, Robe LJ, Toda MJ, Marlétaz F, DrosoPhyla: genomic resources for drosophilid phylogeny and systematics
Genome Biology and Evolution 13 (8) (2021) ISSN: 1759-6653 eISSN: 1759-6653
Hagen JFD, Mendes CC, Booth SR, Jimenez JF, Tanaka KM, Franke FA, Baudouin-Gonzalez L, Ridgway AM, Arif S, Nunes MDS, McGregor AP., Unravelling the genetic basis for the rapid diversification of male genitalia between Drosophila species
Molecular Biology and Evolution 38 (2) (2020) pp.448- ISSN: 0737-4038 eISSN: 1537-1719 Unravelling the genetic basis for the rapid diversification of male genitalia between Drosophila species Open Access version on RADAR
Gaspar P, Arif S, Sumner-Rooney L, Kittelmann M, Bodey AJ, Stern DL, Nunes MDS, McGregor AP, Characterization of the Genetic Architecture Underlying Eye Size Variation Within Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans
Genes | Genomes | Genetics 10 (3) (2020) pp.1005-1018 ISSN: 2160-1836 eISSN: 2160-1836 Characterization of the Genetic Architecture Underlying Eye Size Variation Within Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans Open Access version on RADAR
Gaspar P, Almudi I, Nunes MDS, McGregor AP, Human eye conditions: insights from the fly eye
Human Genetics 138 (8-9) (2019) pp.973-991 ISSN: 0340-6717 eISSN: 1432-1203
Hagen JFD, Mendes CC, Blogg A, Payne A, Tanaka KM, Gaspar P, Jimenez JF, Kittelmann M, McGregor AP, Nunes MDS, tartan underlies the evolution of Drosophila male genital morphology
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 116 (38) (2019) pp.19025-19030 ISSN: 0027-8424 eISSN: 1091-6490 tartan underlies the evolution of Drosophila male genital morphology Open Access version on RADAR
Rice G, David JR, Kamimura Y, Masly JP, Mcgregor AP, Nagy O, Noselli S, Nunes MDS, O'Grady P, Sánchez-Herrero E, Siegal ML, Toda MJ, Rebeiz M, Courtier-Orgogozo V, Yassin A., A standardized nomenclature and atlas of the male terminalia of Drosophila melanogaster
Fly 13 (1/4) (2019) pp.51-64 ISSN: 1933-6934 eISSN: 1933-6942 A standardized nomenclature and atlas of the male terminalia of Drosophila melanogaster Open Access version on RADAR
Kittelmann S, Buffry AD, Franke FA, Almudi I, Yoth M, Sabaris G, Couso JP, Nunes MDS, Frankel N, Gómez-Skarmeta JL, Pueyo-Marques J, Arif S, McGregor AP, Gene regulatory network architecture in different developmental contexts influences the genetic basis of morphological evolution
PLoS Genetics 14 (5) (2018) ISSN: 1553-7390 eISSN: 1553-7404 Gene regulatory network architecture in different developmental contexts influences the genetic basis of morphological evolution Open Access version on RADAR
Tanaka KM, Hopfen C, Herbert MR, Schlotterer C, Stern DL, Masly JP, McGregor AP, Nunes MD, Genetic architecture and functional characterization of genes underlying the rapid diversification of male external genitalia between Drosophila simulans and Drosophila mauritiana
Genetics 200 (1) (2015) pp.357-369 ISSN: 0016-6731
Hilbrant M, Almudi I, Leite DJ, Kuncheria L, Posnien N, Nunes MDS, McGregor AP, Sexual dimorphism and natural variation within and among species in the Drosophila retinal mosaic
BMC Evolutionary Biology 14 (2014) pp.240- ISSN: 1471-2148
Nunes MDS, Arif S, Schlotterer C, McGregor AP, A perspective on micro-evo-devo: progress and potential
Genetics 195 (3) (2013) pp.625-634 ISSN: 0016-6731 eISSN: 1943-2631
Nunes MDS, Dolezal M, Schlotterer C, Extensive paternal mtDNA leakage in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster
Molecular Ecology 22 (8) (2013) pp.2106-2117 ISSN: 0962-1083 eISSN: 1365-294X
Arif S, Murat S, Almudi I, Nunes M, Bortolamiol-Becet D, McGregor N, Currie J, Hughes H, Ronshaugen M, Sucena E, Lai E, Schlottere C, McGregor A, Evolution of mir-92a underlies natural morphological variation in Drosophila melanogaster
Current Biology 23 (6) (2013) pp.523-528 ISSN: 0960-9822
Arif S, Hilbrant M, Hopfen C, Almudi I, Nunes MDS, Posnien N, Kuncheria L, Tanaka K, Mitteroecker P, Schlotterer C, McGregor AP, Genetic and Developmental Analysis of Differences in Eye and Face Morphology Between Drosophila Simulans and Drosophila Mauritiana
Evolution & Development 15 (2013) pp.257-267 ISSN: 1520-541X eISSN: 1525-142X
Posnien N, Hopfen C, Hilbrant M, Ramos-Womack M, Murat S, Schonauer A, Herbert S, Nunes M, Arif S, Breuker C J, Schlotterer C, Mitteroecker P, McGregor AP, Evolution of eye morphology and rhodopsin expression in the Drosophila melanogaster species subgroup.
PLoS ONE 7 (5) (2012) pp.e37346- ISSN: 1932-6203 eISSN: 1932-6203
Nunes M D S, Orozco-Ter Wengel P, Kreissl M, Schlotterer C, Multiple hybridization events between Drosophila simulans and Drosophila mauritiana are supported by mtDNA introgression
Molecular Ecology 19 (21) (2010) pp.4695-4707 ISSN: 0962-1083 eISSN: 1365-294X
Nunes, M D S Neumeier H, and Schlotterer C, Contrasting patterns of natural variation in global Drosophila melanogaster populations
Molecular Ecology 17 (20) (2008) pp.4470-4479 ISSN: 0962-1083 eISSN: 1365-294X
Nunes M D S, Nolte V, Scholotterer C, Nonrandom Wolbachia infection status of Drosophila melanogaster strains with different mtDNA haplotypes
Molecular Biology and Evolution 25 (11) (2008) pp.2493-2498 ISSN: 0737-4038 eISSN: 1537-1719
Nunes MDS, Santos RAM, Ferreira SM, Vieira J, Vieira CP, Variability patterns and positively selected sites at the gametophytic self-incompatibility pollen SFB gene in a wild self-incompatible Prunus spinosa (Rosaceae) population
New Phytologist 172 (2006) pp.577-587 ISSN: 0028-646X eISSN: 1469-8137

Further details

Press, publicity and reviews

The genetics of male genital evolution unraveled: the tartan gene underlies differences in the size of genitalia between species