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Name: Donna Holmes Department: School of Biological Sciences Credentials: 1987~Ph.D. Bowling Green State University–Biology Phone: 509-335-7961 Fax: 509-335-3184 Mailing Address: School of Biological Sciences Washington State University PO Box 644236 Pullman, WA 99164-4236 E-mail: djholmes@wsu.edu

Research Interests

Comparative biology of aging, life-history tradeoffs, female
reproductive aging in vertebrates and the evolution of
menopause.

Research Summary

My research is broadly focused on the comparative biology of aging and is couched in terms of evolutionary senescence or life-history theory. My approach is to integrate evolutionary, comparative and physiological approaches in order to better understand why animals (including humans) age, why some animals live and reproduce longer than others, and how they make phenotypic and physiological tradeoffs between reproduction and long-term somatic maintenance and fitness. I am particularly intrigued by animal species, including birds, that age slowly for their body sizes and metabolic rates, and in how these exceptionally long-lived animals prevent aging-related disease. Over the last 15 years I have collaborated in studies of aging in opossums, laboratory mice, birds, fish, and humans. Specific research approaches have included monitoring demographic, reproductive and clinical aspects of aging in wild and captive mammals, caloric restriction studies, testing resistance to oxidative stressors in avian and mammalian cells, and histological examination of aging-related changes in ovarian follicular profiles in female birds. Recent studies have included comparisons of histological and endocrinological aspects of ovarian aging in short- and long-lived female birds; demographic analysis of reproductive aging in female vertebrates relevant to the evolutionary basis of human menopause; comparative analysis of the relationship between avian sexual selection and life span; and a study comparing aging and life span in wild and domestic zebrafish strains. I plan to continue studies on the effects of prenatal hormones and environment on avian reproduction and developmental tradeoffs.

Research Publications

2005-2009

Reznick D, Bryant M, Holmes D . 2006. The evolution of senescence and post-reproductive lifespan in guppies (Poecilia reticulata). PLoS Biology 4(1):e7.