Jessica D. Ayers

I study the behavioral manifestations of genetic conflict (it's a mouthful, I know). To understand what that means, think back to biology 101: We get half of our genes from our mom and half from our dad. This combination results in a novel individual with a totally unique genetic profile! Turns out, that's not the end of the story. Throughout development, our genes continue to interact with each other: sometimes they agree and sometimes they disagree. These "arguments" impact the way an individual grows, develops, and behaves over their lifespan. My work detects these genetic "disagreements" and examines how they influence important components of an individual's life, including their development and romantic relationships.