D. Kevin Kump

TL;DR: Using computer simulations, it is found that the spread of a few introduced genes 90 km into a threatened native species in 60 years is unlikely to emerge by chance among selectively neutral markers, and implies that natural selection has favored both the movement and fixation of these exceptional invasive alleles.

TL;DR: This study developed ESTs for Mexican axolotl and Eastern tiger salamander, species with deep and diverse research histories, to highlight the value of developing resources in traditional model systems where the likelihood of information transfer to multiple, closely related taxa is high, thus simultaneously enabling both laboratory and natural history research.

TL;DR: The molecular genetic toolkit of the Mexican axolotl, a classic model organism, has matured to the point where it is now possible to identify genes for mutant phenotypes, and it is shown that historical introgression of tyra significantly altered genomic composition of the laboratory axolOTl, yielding a distinct, hybrid strain of ambystomatid salamander.

TL;DR: While most markers retain native and introduced alleles in expected proportions, strong selection appears to be eliminating native alleles at a smaller set of loci, which suggests that genetically pure populations of this endangered species will be difficult to maintain.

TL;DR: The maintenance of gene order relationships between chromosomal segments that have greatly expanded and contracted in salamander and chicken genomes, respectively, suggests selection to maintain synteny relationships and/or extremely low rates of chromosomal rearrangement.