U of A Researchers Contribute to Updated 'Tree of Life'

Russell Cothren

Fred Spiegel

Fred Spiegel, a Distinguished Professor of biology and the director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, is one of about 40 experts worldwide, and one of three affiliated with the University of Arkansas, tasked with periodically updating the phylogenetic tree for eukaryotes. Matthew Brown, now an assistant professor of biology at Mississippi State University, earned his bachelor's and Ph.D. here; and Laura Shadwick, an instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences who also earned her Ph.D. here, are also contributors.

Together, the group of scientists has come up with two versions of the tree: one in 2005 and one in 2012. But exciting new discoveries in remote areas such as the deep ocean, along with a wealth of new genetic information, means it's time to update the tree again. Read the full story in Research Frontiers.