Directory of Experts
Details for Dr James Tarver
| Personal details | |
| Name | Dr James Tarver |
| Job title | Visiting Fellow Lecturer in Palaeobiology |
| Department | School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol |
| Contact details | This expert can be contacted via the University of Bristol Public Relations
Office. To help us deal with your request, please mention the Directory of Experts when contacting the Public Relations Office. work+44 (0)117 928 7777 email: public-relations@bristol.ac.uk |
| Qualifications | BSc (Wales), MSc (Bristol), PhD (Bristol) |
| Professional details | |
| Keywords | molecular palaeobiology evolution whole genome duplication evens microRNAs teleost-specific genome duplication actinopterygians |
| Areas of expertise | My research interests lie within the realm of molecular palaeobiology. I use palaeontological data to better constrain molecular and developmental hypotheses while at the same time using molecular data to better understand the tempo and mode of both taxic and character evolution through time. Currently I am investigating the effects of whole genome duplication events on the evolution, acquisition and functionalisation of microRNAS. In particular, I am looking at the teleost-specific genome duplication event which occurred on the actinopterygian (ray-finned fish) lineage approximately 350 million years ago. Concurrently, I am also developing novel methods to incorporate palaeontologcal and geological data into prior probability distributions for molecular clock analyses using Bayesian methods. |