Video of 2017 Whitehead Symposium: Beyond the Gene: Epigenetic Control of Plant Development

When genetic information is passed along to offspring, different versions of the same gene typically have equal chances of being transmitted. But some “selfish” genes break this rule to stack the odds in their favor. Whitehead Institute Member Yukiko Yamashita and colleagues have discovered one such gene—except it also uses a novel mechanism to limit its own “selfishness”.

Whitehead Institute Member Siniša Hrvatin is studying tardigrades to decode the mechanisms enabling their survival in extreme environmental conditions. Learn about the biology of these microscopic “water bears” and what makes them a particularly fascinating model organism. Click here to view the full multimedia story.

Despite their distinct evolutionary histories, different species can sometimes arrive at similar solutions for survival. The work of various researchers at Whitehead Institute investigates this fascinating phenomenon, called convergent evolution, through the lens of shared mechanisms governing reproduction, development, and regeneration across a range of species.