Research in my lab is aimed at understanding how organisms, (fish in most cases) adjust (acclimate) or adapt (evolve) their physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology in order to invade marginal or extreme environments. We are especially interested in how embryos from these fish survive, because embryos are typically very sensitive to environmental extremes.  Most of our work is focused on small cyprinodont fish that live in the desert Southwest of North America (Salt Creek Desert Pupfish, Cyprinodon salinus) or the coastal deserts of northern South America (Annual Killifish, Austrofundulus limnaeus).  These fish are able to survive in habitats that are unsuitable not only to most other species of fish, but to most vertebrates!  These fish tolerate extremes in temperature, oxygen concentration, pH, salinity, and in some cases even dehydration. We are currently using modern genomic techniques such as cDNA microarrays to search for the genes that may allow these amazing fish to survive in their harsh and often unpredictable desert environments.