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CNRS researcher

HDR, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (2020); PhD, University of Paris XI, Orsay, France (2007); B.Sc., M.Sc., University of Alexandria, Egypt (2002, 2004)

Research interests

My research focuses on the systematics and evolutionary genetics of flies in the family Drosophilidae. Drosophila melanogaster is undoubtedly a genetics star, but our understanding of the morphological and ecological diversity of non-melanogaster drosophilids remains nebulous. I attempt to establish a comprehensive phylogenetic classification of the family based on molecular and morphological data. I also combine population and functional genomics approaches to unravel the genetic basis of diverging phenotypes, such as female-limited color dimorphism, genital coevolution, host plant specialization and insular speciation.

Most significant publications

(For a complete list, see Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=E33mO84AAAAJ&hl=en)

1. Yassin A, Debat V, Bastide H, Gidasweski N, David JR, Pool JE (2016) Recurrent specialization on a toxic fruit in an island Drosophila population. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA113:4771-4776.

2. Yassin A, Bastide H, Chung H, Veuille M, David JR, Pool JE (2016) Ancient balancing selection at tan underlies female colour dimorphism in Drosophila erecta. Nature Communications 7:10400.

3. Yassin A*, Delaney EK*, Reddiex AJ, Seher TD, Bastide H, Appleton NC, Lack JB, David JR, Chenoweth SF, Pool JE, Kopp A (2016) The pdm3 locus is a hotspot for recurrent evolution of female-limited color dimorphism in Drosophila. Current Biology 26:2412-2422.  [* co-first author]

4. Yassin A (2013) Phylogenetic classification of the family Drosophilidae Rondani (Diptera): the role of morphology in the post-genomic era. Systematic Entomology 38:349-364.

Online talks

Quantifying the extent of homoplasy in Drosophila: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exeSUTF9jV0&t=124s

The genomic basis of adaptation in Drosophila: sex, poison and other dramas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V4b9zxShPg&t=405s

Grants and awards

2019-2023: ANR PRC « Bittertox: Bitter taste and detoxification » (co-PI)

2018-2022: ANR JCJC « Toxiphila: Genomic basis of convergent specialization on a toxic plant in two Drosophila species » (PI)

2017-2020: Richard Lounsbery Foundation (co-PI)

2007: Prix Jeune Chercheur, Fondation Bettencourt-Schueller