Ms Rachel van der Ploeg
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of Biological Sciences
College of Science
My research interests lie at the intersection of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), embryology, and sexual development. My PhD focuses on the evolution of the DMRT gene family, particularly DMRT1, and its role in egg laying mammals (monotremes). I am interested in how sex determining pathways evolve across vertebrates and the molecular mechanisms that regulate gonadal and reproductive development. More broadly, my research seeks to understand how developmental genes and regulatory networks shape organismal diversity through evolutionary time.
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2022 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Science (Advanced) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2026 | van der Ploeg, R., Shearwin-Whyatt, L., & Grützner, F. (2026). Monotremes provide novel insights into evolution of the <i>DMRT</i> gene family in vertebrates. DOI |
| 2024 | Dann, J., Qu, Z., Shearwin-Whyatt, L., van der Ploeg, R., & Grützner, F. (2024). Pseudogenisation of NK3 Homeobox 2 ( <i>Nkx3.2</i> ) in Monotremes Provides Insight into Unique Gastric Anatomy and Physiology. DOI |
Courses I have been involved in teaching and/or course development:
Genetics 3A: Evolutionary Genetics and Epigenetics
Genetics 3B: Quantitative, Developmental and Medical Genetics
Genetics 2B: Applications of Genetic Analysis
Biology 1A: Molecules, Genes and Cells
Biology 1C: Molecular Biology and Biomedical Science
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