Emory University Department of Human Genetics

James W. Thomas, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Pubmed Search
PubMed Search for James Thomas

Email
jthomas@genetics.emory.edu

Phone
404-727-9751

Office
305N

Lab
365

Lab Web Site
Visit the Thomas Laboratory

Mailing Address
Whitehead Biomedical Research Building
615 Michael St.
Atlanta, GA 30322

Research Description
Comparative genetics of human disease and genome evolution
There is abundant phenotypic variation between species and within the human population. However, the genetic basis for most of this phenotypic variation is not known. The goal of our research is to use comparative genomics to address this fundamental gap in knowledge. In particular, our research uses a comparative genomics approach to identify when and how candidate functional genetic differences between species arose, and then to apply that knowledge to the development of better animal models of human disease and to a more complete understanding of the evolutionary history of the human genome. Ongoing projects in our laboratory include: the evaluation of a potential new mouse model of Lesch-Nyhan disease; genomic characterization of a chromosomal polymorphism linked to variation in plumage, behavior and mate-choice; the development and application of genomic resources for the prairie vole (a rodent model of social behvaior); and genomic resequencing in nonhuman primate models for HIV/AIDS to identify candidate genetic factors associated with the benign versus pathogenic nature of SIV infection in the sooty mangabey and rhesus macaque.

Areas of Specialization / Research Interests

Comparative genomics
Genome evolution
Bioinformatics/Computational Biology

Education
1998 Ph.D., Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
1991 A.B., Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri