James Sikes Graduate Student Advisor: Dr. Alexa Bely Program in Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, & Systematics 1210 Biology/Psychology Bldg University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 USA email: phone: office: lab: jsikes @ umd . edu (remove spaces within address) (301) 405-0239 / -0453 (lab) 1215Q Biology/Psychology bldg 0249 Biology/Psychology bldg

Previous Education:

B.S.   Biology     Furman University, Greenville, SC

Research Interests:

I am broadly interested in the evolution of asexual reproduction, regeneration, and symbiosis in marine invertebrates.  My research focuses on a group of closely related acoel worms in the genus Convolutriloba, which possess remarkably different modes of asexual division, amazing abilities of regeneration, and an obligate symbiosis with unicellular algae.  By reconstructing phylogenetic relationships within this genus, I hope to elucidate the evolutionary steps that led to the development of these varied asexual reproductive strategies as well as the symbiotic association with algal cells.  I am also studying potential differences in development and gene expression between different stages of asexual reproduction and regeneration in this group of acoels. 

(A)	(B)

Images of nonbudding (A) and budding Convolutriloba retrogemma (B).  This species demonstrates a remarkable form of asexual reproduction by producing posterior buds that have a reversed anterior/posterior polarity relative to the parent.

Publications & Presentations:

Sikes, J. M. and A. E. Bely (2008). Radical modification of the A-P axis and the evolution of
   asexual reproduction in Convolutriloba acoels. Evolution & Development 10: 619-631.

Sikes, J.M. & A.E. Bely. Reversed polarity budding in the basal bilaterian Convolutriloba
   retrogemma (Acoelomorpha: Acoela). Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.
   Phoenix, AZ. 2007. (talk)

Sikes, J.M. & A.E. Bely. Radical modification of the A-P axis and the evolution of asexual
   reproduction in Convolutriloba acoels. Integrating Evolution, Development, and Genomics.
   Berkeley, CA. 2008. (poster)

Sikes, J.M. & Bely, A.E. Development and evolution of diverse asexual reproductive strategies
   in Convolutriloba acoels. Integrating Evolution, Development, and Genomics. Berkeley, CA.
   2006.  (poster)

Sikes, J.M. & Bely, A.E.  Regeneration and asexual reproduction in acoels of the genus
   Convolutriloba.  Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. San Diego, CA. 2005. 
   (poster)

Awards:

2008	Jacob K. Goldhaber Travel Grant
2007	BEES Student Research Presentation Award
2005	Graduate Teaching Award, Dept. of Biology
2004-05	Distinguished Teaching Assistant
2004	Janie Pritchard Award for Graduate Teaching Assistants