Amr Aswad
DPhil Student
Answering questions about how evolution works on a universal scale underpins my scientific interests. In the past I have worked with bacteria as a means of understanding speciation genetics; I considered how horizontal gene transfer shapes their evolution, especially in the absence of sex. Currently, my research involves exploring ancient viral evolution by means of endogenous viral elements (EVEs), particularly those whose presence is not readily explained by replication that involves obligate host genome integration. EVEs provide snapshots of ancient viruses, providing a evolutionary context in which to study modern viral disease and contributing to our understanding of the delicate host-virus relationship.
Research Interests