ECO-EVO-DEVO
Integrating ecology, developmental biology, & comparative genomics to understand diverse animal life histories
Welcome
The Bock Lab at Oklahoma State University studies how environmental factors interact with the genome during development to shape organismal form and function, primarily in reptiles and fishes. We’re especially interested in sex determination and aging, and passionate about translating discoveries about these processes into health and conservation insights.
Research
InTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY in a Changing World
Developmental Plasticity
Environmental conditions during development exert lasting influences on an organism’s physiology, morphology, and behavior. This research explores the mechanisms that integrate cues like temperature into alternate developmental paths and how these mechanisms evolve.
Aging & LIFE HISTORY
Nearly all animals age, but individuals vary widely in how long they live and how their biology changes over time. This work uncovers how environmental and genomic factors contribute to the diversity of aging patterns within and across species.
(EPI)Genomic Tools for Conservation
Effective conservation depends on information about key population metrics like sex ratios and age distributions. Through non-invasive epigenomic techniques, this research develops methods to determine age and sex in wild animals in order to advance conservation of vulnerable species.
Peer-Reviewed Contributions
Research at the Intersection of ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, & DEVELOPMENT
JOIN US
We are actively recruiting graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D.) to join the lab for Spring or Fall 2027!