Feng Gao
Post-doc, Laboratory of Protozoology
Department of Aquaculture, Fisheries College, Ocean University of China
5 Yushan Road, Phone: 86-532-82031676
Qingdao 266003, Fax: 86-532-82031676
P. R. China Email: gaof@ouc.edu.cn
EDUCATION:
B.Sc. Biological Sciences, Ocean University of China (2003-2007);
Ph. D. Hydrobiology, Ocean University of China (2007-2013);
JointPh. D. student, Smith College, USA (2011-2013);
RESEARCH INTERESTS
§ Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of ciliates: using the molecular biological methodsto investigate systematics, phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary positions of ciliates. Phylogenetics and systematics of ciliates are still largely unknown,especially the evolutionary relationships and systematic positions of many morphologicallywell-known groups. We have expanded the taxonomic sampling of ciliates as well as additional molecular markers and carried out phylogenetic analyses based on single genes as well as concatenated data, secondarystructural analyses and predicted topologytest to expand the understanding of phylogenetic relationships within and among different groups of ciliates. These studies provide important insights into ciliates taxonomy, species identification, eukaryotic evolution, genetics, etc.
§ Genome evolutionofciliates: to explore patterns of chromosomal rearrangements and to characterize the mechanisms of genome rearrangements among diverse ciliate lineages. Due to the dual genomes of ciliates, there are pronouncedgenome rearrangements during the development of the somatic macronuclear genome. Our lab mainly focuses on the patterns and mechanisms of genome rearrangements during sexual conjugation. These studiesyield important insights into the genome evolution and add to the growing literature on genome dynamics across the eukaryotic tree of life.
HONORS & AWARDS:
§ State Scholarship Fund for Post-graduate Study Abroad Program, China (2011-2013);
§ National Scholarship (graduate student), 2012;
§ The title of outstanding student, OUC, 2009;
§ Outstanding League Cadres, OUC, 2008;
§ Scholarship for social work, OUC, 2008;
§ The title of outstanding student, OUC, 2006;
§ National Scholarship (undergraduate), 2005;
§ Scholarship on merit in Ocean University of China in the successive three years from 2003 to 2006;
PUBLICATIONS:
§ Gao F., Katz L. A. (2014) Phylogenomic analyses support the bifurcation of ciliates into two major clades that differ in properties of nuclear division. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 70: 240-243.
§ Gao F., Katz L. A., Song W. (2013)Multigene-based analyses on evolutionary phylogeny of twocontroversialciliateorders: Pleuronematida and Loxocephalida (Protista, Ciliophora). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 68: 55-63.
§ Gao F., KatzL. A., Song W. (2012)Insights into the phylogenetic and taxonomy of philasterid ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora,Scuticociliatia) based on analyses of multiple molecular markers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 64: 308-317.
§ Gao F., Strüder-Kypke M., Yi Z., Miao M., Al-Farraj S. A., Song W. (2012) Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic distinction of six genera of pathogenic scuticociliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) inferred from sequences of the small subunit rRNA gene. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 62: 246-256.
§ Gao F., Fan X., Yi Z., Strüder-Kypke M., Song W. (2010) Phylogenetic consideration of two scuticociliate genera, Philasterides and Boveria (Protozoa, Ciliophora) based on 18S rRNA gene sequences. Parasitology International,59: 549-555.
§ Gao F., Yi Z., Gong J., Al-Rasheid K. A. S., Song W. (2010) Molecular phylogeny and species separation of five morphologically similar Holosticha-complex ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) using ARDRA riboprinting and multigene sequence data. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 28 (3), 542-548.
§ Gao F., Yi Z., Chen Z., Al-Rasheid K. A. S., Song W.(2010) On four closely related hypotrichous ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Spirotrichea): molecular characters, interspecific relationships and phylogeny defined with multigene sequence information.Acta Oceanologica Sinica,29(5), 90-96.
§ Pan H., Gao F., Lin X., Warren A., Song W. (2013) Three New Loxophyllum Species (Ciliophora:Pleurostomatida) from China with a Brief Review of theMarine and Brackish Loxophyllum Species. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 60: 44-56.
§ Pan X., Gao F., Liu W., Fan X., Warren A., Song W. (2013) Morphology and SSU rRNA gene sequences of threeFrontonia species, including F. subtropica spec.nov. (Ciliophora, Peniculida). European Journal of Protistology, 49: 67-77.
§ Zhao Y., Gao F., Li J.,AL-Farraj S. A.,Warren A. (2012) Phylogenetic analyses on the tintinnid ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) based on multigene sequence data. Acta Protozoologica, 51: 319-328.
§ Shao C., Gao F., Hu X., Al-Rasheid K. A., Warren A. (2011) Ontogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a new marine urostylid ciliate,Anteholosticha petzi n. sp. (Ciliophora, Urostylida). Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology,58(3), 254-265.
§ Pan H., Gao F.,Li J., Lin X., AL-Farraj S. A., Al-Rasheid K. A. S. (2010) Morphology and phylogeny of two new pleurostomatid ciliates, Epiphyllum shenzhenense n. sp. and Loxophyllum spirellum n. sp. (Protozoa, Ciliophora) from A mangrove wetland, South China.Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology,57(5), 421-428.
§ Xu Y., Li J., Gao F.,Hu X.,Al-Rasheid K. A.S. (2011)Apotrachelocerca arenicola (Kahl, 1933) n. g., comb. n. (Protozoa, Ciliophora,Trachelocercidae): Morphology and Phylogeny. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology,58(6), 504-510.
