Staff profile

Employment

2018 – now Assistant Professor, University of Durham, UK

2013 – 2018 Research Fellow in Plant Sciences, University of Durham, UK

2011 – 2013 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain

2010 – 2011 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK

2007 – 2010 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of St Andrews, UK

2004 – 2007 Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Bristol, UK

Education

1999 – 2003 DPhil (PhD), University of Oxford, UK “Population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI) in the British colonising species, Senecio squalidus”

1996 – 1999 BA Biological Sciences Honours Degree, University of Oxford, UK

Other Activities

Biosciences Academic Director of Durham Botanic Garden 2022 to present

Biosciences Academic Advice Coordinator 2018 to present.

Biosciences International Exchange Coordinator 2018 to present

Durham Botanic Garden Biosciences Research Demonstration Plot 2017 to now: Flax common garden experiment.

Durham Schools Science Festival Exhibition 2015 to 2018: How plants find a mate.

Associate editor for Frontiers in Plant Science: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science

Associate editor for AoB Plants: http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.org/

Associate editor for Evolutionary Ecology: http://link.springer.com/journal/10682

Associate editor for Web Ecology: http://www.web-ecology.net/

Reviewing for scientific journals: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-8171-769X

Research Interests

I am interested in the evolution of genomes and quantitative trait architecture in response to a range of selection pressures. I have experience studying this question in a range of the contexts including; hybridization, speciation, invasiveness, and breeding systems in several plant species through my postdoctoral projects. As an independent researcher in the Biosciences Department, Durham University, I have been developing new projects in the genus Linum (flax/linseed) to test how selection shapes the genetic architecture of a range of traits including; distylous breeding systems, local adaption, and domestication traits using a combination of high-throughput DNA and RNA sequencing and growth experiments in the field and glasshouse. My other active collaborations include rapid evolution in invasive Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle) and genetic variation in wild relatives and landraces of wheat and chickpea.

Available positions

I am looking for interested candidates for competitive PhD project applications that would start in Oct 2023. Please contact me to discuss further. The available projects are:

"Development of wild crop relative genetic resources to fine tune crop flowering time"

"The importance of location of origin for wildflower seed mixes"

Current group members

2022-present Jon Foster, MBiol student

2021-2021 Misbah Naseem, Pakistan IRSIP visiting PhD student

2018-present Rico Habeahan, BBSRC PhD student

Past group members

2020-2021 Callum Bennett, MBiol student

2017-2020 Lewis Edwards, MSc student

2019-2020 Sarah Lunt, MBiol student

2019-2019 M Eren Tedik, ERASMUS placement from Bogazici University, Turkey

2018-2019 Pilar Suarez Montes, Mexico CONACYT Fellow

2018-2019 Katy Brown, MBiol student

2016-2020 Ramona Irimia, FCT PhD student from Coimbra University, Portugal (2nd supervisor)

2014-2018 Alireza Foroozani, Durham PhD student

2017-2018 Rue Laidler, MBiol student

2016-2018 Ellie Desmond, MSc student

Teaching

• Level 2: Evolution
• Level 3: Genomics (coordinator), Genes and Diversity workshop, Literature Review, Research Project, Contemporary issues in the Biosciences
• Level 4: Research Skills

Past teaching

• Level 1: Skills for Biosciences
• Level 2: Genetics, Molecular Biology
• Level 3: Fieldcourse, Crops for the Future

Journal Article

• Brennan, A. C., Woodward, G., Seehausen, O., Munoz-Fuentes, V., Moritz, C., Guelmami, A., …Edelaar, P. (in press). Hybridization due to changing species distributions: adding problems or solutions to conservation of biodiversity during global change?. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 16(6), 475-491
• Landoni, B., Suárez-Montes, P., Habeahan, R. H. F., Brennan, A. C., & Pérez-Barrales, R. (2024). Local climate and vernalization sensitivity predict the latitudinal patterns of flowering onset in the crop wild relative Linum bienne Mill. Annals of Botany, https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcae040
• Patterson, C. W., Bonillas-Monge, E., Brennan, A., Grether, G. F., Mendoza-Cuenca, L., Tucker, R., …Drury, J. (2023). A chromosome-level genome assembly for the smoky rubyspot damselfly (Hetaerina titia). Journal of Heredity, https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esad070
• Lakmes, A., Jhar, A., Penmetsa, R. V., Wei, W., Brennan, A. C., & Kahriman, A. (2023). Inheritance of seed weight and growth habit in 10 intercross chickpea (Cicer arietinum) nested association mapping populations. Plant Breeding, 142(1), 86-96. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.13065
• Foroozani, A., Desmond, E. L., Gough, C. A., Pérez-Barrales, R., & Brennan, A. C. (2023). Sources of variation in reciprocal herkogamy in the distyly floral syndrome of Linum tenue (Linaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences, 184(2), 142-155. https://doi.org/10.1086/723564
• Lakmes, A., Jhar, A., Brennan, A. C., & Kahriman, A. (2023). Inheritance of early and late Ascochyta blight resistance in wide crosses of chickpea. Genes, 14(2), Article 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14020316
• Irimia, R. E., Montesinos, D., Chaturvedi, A., Sanders, I., Hierro, J. L., Sotes, G., …Brennan, A. C. (2023). Trait evolution during a rapid global weed invasion despite little genetic differentiation. Evolutionary Applications, https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13548
• Gutiérrez-Valencia, J., Fracassetti, M., Berdan, E. L., Bunikis, I., Soler, L., Dainat, J., …Slotte, T. (2022). Genomic analyses of the Linum distyly supergene reveal convergent evolution at the molecular level. Current Biology, 32(20), 4360-4371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.042
• Lakmes, A., Jhar, A., Penmetsa, R., Wei, W., Brennan, A., & Kahriman, A. (2022). The Quantitative Genetics of Flowering Traits in Wide Crosses of Chickpea. Agriculture, 12(4), Article 486. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12040486
• Landoni, B., Viruel, J., Gomez, R., Allaby, R. G., Brennan, A. C., Pico, F. X., & Perez-Barrales, R. (2020). Microsatellite marker development in the crop wild relative Linum bienne using genome skimming. Applications in Plant Sciences, 8(5), Article e11349. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.11349
• Walter, G. M., Abbott, R. J., Brennan, A. C., Bridle, J. R., Chapman, M., Clark, J., …Hiscock, S. J. (2020). Senecio as a model system for integrating studies of genotype, phenotype and fitness. New Phytologist, 226(2), 326-344. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16434
• Gu, X., Brennan, A., Wei, W., Guo, G., & Lindsey, K. (2020). Vesicle transport in plants: A revised phylogeny of SNARE proteins. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 16, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1176934320956575
• Brennan, A. C., Hiscock, S. J., & Abbott, R. J. (2019). Completing the hybridization triangle: the inheritance of genetic incompatibilities during homoploid hybrid speciation in ragworts (Senecio). AoB PLANTS, 11(1), Article ply078. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/ply078
• Exposito-Alonso, M., Brennan, A. C., Alonso-Blanco, C., & Pico, F. X. (2018). Spatio-temporal variation in fitness responses to contrasting environments in Arabidopsis thaliana. Evolution: International Journal of Organic Evolution, 72(8), 1570-1586. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13508
• Abbott, R. J., Comes, H. P., Goodwin, Z. A., & Brennan, A. C. (2018). Hybridisation and detection of a hybrid zone between mesic and desert ragworts (Senecio) across an aridity gradient in the eastern Mediterranean. Plant Ecology and Diversity, 11(3), 267-281. https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2018.1496366
• Brennan, A. (2017). Distyly supergenes as a model to understand the evolution of genetic architecture. American Journal of Botany, 104(1), 5-7. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1600363
• Silva, J., Brennan, A., & Mejías, J. (2016). Population genetics of self-incompatibility in a clade of relict cliff-dwelling plant species. AoB PLANTS, 8, Article plw029. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plw029
• Brennan, A., Hiscock, S., & Abbott, R. (2016). Genomic architecture of phenotypic divergence between two hybridizing plant species along an elevational gradient. AoB PLANTS, 8, Article plw022. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plw022
• Brennan, A., Hiscock, S., & Abbott, R. (2014). Interspecific crossing and genetic mapping reveal intrinsic genomic incompatibility between two Senecio species that form a hybrid zone on Mount Etna, Sicily. Heredity, 113, 195-204. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2014.14
• Abbott, R., & Brennan, A. (2014). Altitudinal gradients, plant hybrid zones and evolutionary novelty. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369(1648), Article 20130346. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0346
• Brennan, A., Méndez-Vigo, B., Haddioui, A., Martínez-Zapater, J., Picó, F., & Alonso-Blanco, C. (2014). The genetic structure of Arabidopsis thaliana in the south-western Mediterranean range reveals a shared history between North Africa and southern Europe. BMC Plant Biology, 14, Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2229-14-17
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2013). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in three hybridizing Senecio (Asteraceae) species with contrasting population histories. Evolution: International Journal of Organic Evolution, 67(5), 1347-1367. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12033
• Brennan, A., Bridgett, S., Shaukat, A. M., Harrison, N., Matthews, A., Pellicer, J., …Kidner, C. (2012). Genomic resources for evolutionary studies in the large, diverse, tropical genus, Begonia. Tropical Plant Biology, 5(4), 261-276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-012-9109-6
• Brennan, A., Barker, D., Hiscock, S., & Abbott, R. (2012). Molecular genetic and quantitative trait differentiation associated with the recent homoploid hybrid speciation: A study of Senecio squalidus (Asteraceae). Heredity, 108(2), 87-95. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2011.46
• Cruz, F., Brennan, A., Gonzalez-Voyer, A., Muñoz-Fuentes, V., Muthukrishnan, E., Roques, S., & Picó, F. (2012). Genetics and genomics in wildlife studies: Implications for ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. BioEssays, 34(3), 245-246. https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201100171
• Brennan, A., Tabah, D., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2011). Sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus (Asteraceae): S allele dominance interactions and modifiers of cross-compatibility and selfing rates. Heredity, 106(1), 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2010.29
• Brennan, A., & Hiscock, S. (2010). Expression and inheritance of sporophytic self-incompatibility in synthetic allohexaploid Senecio cambrensis (Asteraceae). New Phytologist, 186(1), 251-261. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.03082.x
• Abbott, R., Hegarty, M., Hiscock, S., & Brennan, A. (2010). Homoploid hybrid speciation in action
• Brennan, A., Bridle, J., Wang, A., Hiscock, S., & Abbott, R. (2009). Adaptation and selection in the Senecio (Asteraceae) hybrid zone on Mount Etna, Sicily. New Phytologist, 183(3), 702-717. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02944.x
• Abbott, R., Brennan, A., James, J., Forbes, D., Hegarty, M., & Hiscock, S. (2009). Recent hybrid origin and invasion in the British Isles by a self-incompatible species, Oxford ragwort (Senecio squalidus L., Asteraceae). Biological Invasions, 11(5), 1145-1158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9382-3
• Hegarty, M., Barker, G., Brennan, A., Edwards, K., Abbott, R., & Hiscock, S. (2009). Extreme changes to gene expression associated with homoploid hybrid speciation. Molecular Ecology, 18(5), 877-889. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2008.04054.x
• Hegarty, M., Barker, G., Brennan, A., Edwards, K., Abbott, R., & Hiscock, S. (2008). Changes to gene expression associated with hybrid speciation in plants: Further insights from transcriptomic studies in Senecio. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363(1506), 3055-3069. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0080
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2006). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L. (Asteraceae): The number, frequency, and dominance interactions of S alleles across its British range. Evolution: International Journal of Organic Evolution, 60(2), 213-224. https://doi.org/10.1554/05-231.1
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2005). Modes and rates of selfing and associated inbreeding depression in the self-incompatible plant Senecio squalidus (Asteraceae): a successful colonizing species in the British Isles. New Phytologist, 168(2), 475-486. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01517.x
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2003). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L. (Asteraceae): Avoidance of mating constraints imposed by low S allele number. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 358(1434), 1047-1050. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2003.1300
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2003). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L. (Asteraceae) II: A spatial autocorrelation approach to determining mating behaviour in the presence of low S allele diversity. Heredity, 91(5), 502-509. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.hdy.6800315
• Hiscock, S., McInnis, S., Tabah, D., Henderson, C., & Brennan, A. (2003). Sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L (Asteraceae): the search for S. Journal of Experimental Botany, 54(380), 169-174. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erg005
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., Tabah, D., & Hiscock, S. (2002). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L. (Asteraceae) I: S allele diversity in a natural population. Heredity, 89, Article 430-438. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.hdy.6800159