Marla Sokolowski Explained

Marla Sokolowski
Birth Date:20 July 1955
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Other Names:Marla Sokolowski
Occupation:Behavioral geneticist
Period:1981–present
Known For:discovery of the foraging gene
University Professor
Children:2
Website:https://sokolowski.eeb.utoronto.ca/
Education:University of Toronto
Alma Mater:University of Toronto
Thesis Title:Evolution of Behavioural Strategies in Drosophila: genetic analyses
Thesis Url:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/16416037_Sokolowski_M_B_Foraging_strategies_of_Drosophila_melanogaster_a_chromosomal_analysis_Behav_Genet_10_291-302
Thesis Year:1980

Marla B. Sokolowski is a University Professor in the Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto.[1] Sokolowski is a scientist whose work is widely considered to be groundbreaking, foundational for a variety of fields, and instrumental in refutations of genetic determinism, and has, according to the Royal Society of Canada, "permanently changed the way we frame questions about individual differences in behaviour".[2] Sokolowski's comprehensive study of the fruit fly and other animal systems, including humans, has shaped fundamental concepts in behavioural evolution, plasticity, and genetic pleiotropy.[2] Specifically, Sokolowski is best known for her discovery of the foraging gene.[3] Sokolowski was the 2020 recipient of the Flavelle Medal. Sokolowski is only one of two women to ever win the award- the other being Margaret Newton in 1948.[4]

Personal life

Marla Sokolowski was born in Toronto in 1955 to Ruth and Ernest Berger- the latter of which was a Holocaust survivor who immigrated to Canada where he worked as a shoe salesman.[5] [6] Sokolowski is married to Allen Sokolowski, who worked as a dentist and taught at the University of Toronto's School of Dentistry. They have two children: one daughter (born 1991) and one son (born 1995).[7] [8] [9]

Academic career

Research

Sokolowski completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in Zoology in 1977. Sokolowski's early research into evolutionary biology was influenced by Richard Lewontin and Douglas Wahlsten. At the time, very few scientists believed that it was possible for genes to influence normal individual differences in behaviours. This set the stage for Sokolowski's 1980 Ph.D thesis and subsequent research into behavioral genetics.[8]

Sokolowski's research has definitively demonstrated how genes interact with the environment, and thus have an impact on behaviour.[10] [11] She has pioneered the development of a branch of behaviour genetics that addresses the genetic and molecular bases of natural individual differences in behaviour.[12] This is demonstrated most clearly in her discovery of the foraging(for) gene.

By mapping the movement patterns of Drosophila, she discovered a single gene that influenced the style of foraging that they used. Sokolowski's subsequent cloning of this gene, which she named foraging (for), was the first ever molecular characterization of a gene which regulates normal individual differences in a behaviour.[13] This gene has since been studied in many other animals, including humans.[8] Sokolowski demonstrated that the for gene can be influenced by the environment of the individual: this means that the style of foraging is dependent on the life that the individual has lived.[14]

Sokolowski has applied her work to early childhood development,[15] [16] demonstrating how children who are at risk can benefit from nutritional, financial, educational and emotional interventions.[17]

Awards and honours

In 2021, the Journal of Neurogenetics published and issue in honor of her.[18]

Fellowships

Awards

Positions

Publications

Sokolowski has published over 200 scientific papers, has numerous contributions to books, and several editorials in news papers.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marla Sokolowski, University of Toronto – Fruit Flies and Obesity. academicminute.org. 30 May 2017 . 2019-02-09.
  2. Web site: RSC Awards . RSC . 13 November 2020.
  3. Web site: Understanding science affects policy-making. 2014-06-02. Arts & Science News. en. 2019-02-09.
  4. Web site: Sokolowski wins Flavelle Medal . UToronto . 20 September 2020.
  5. Web site: Ernest Berger . Legacy . 13 November 2020.
  6. Web site: Q&A Marla Sokolowski . Current Biology Journal . 13 November 2020.
  7. Web site: 2014 CV . UToronto . 28 August 2020.
  8. Web site: Canada Bio Interview . CanBio . 28 August 2020.
  9. Web site: Marla Interview . IANAS . 13 November 2020.
  10. Web site: Bio. CIFAR. en. 2019-02-09.
  11. Web site: University of Toronto study demonstrates impact of adversity on early life development Canadian Association for Neuroscience. 9 November 2012 . en-US. 2019-02-09.
  12. Web site: 150: Dr. Marla Sokolowski: Fruitful Research on Gene Environment Interplay in Feeding Behavior of Fruit Flies. 2014-09-05. People Behind the Science Podcast. en-US. 2019-02-09.
  13. What Makes Fruit Flies Roam? . Science . 1997 . Science Magazine . 10.1126/science.277.5327.763 . 28 August 2020. Pennisi . Elizabeth . 277 . 5327 . 763–764 . 9273697 . 45842488 .
  14. Web site: Behavioral Genomics . SciTable . 28 August 2020.
  15. News: Why the first 2,000 days of a child's life are the most important. September 17, 2012. The Globe and Mail. 2019-02-10.
  16. News: How poverty influences a child's brain development. January 25, 2013. The Globe and Mail. 2019-02-10.
  17. News: How childhood experience gets under our skin. February 6, 2014. The Globe and Mail. 2019-02-10.
  18. Web site: EEB newsroom . Pioneering behavioural geneticist Marla Sokolowski celebrated with special issue of the Journal of Neurogenetics . Utoronto news . 21 September 2021 . 6 February 2022.
  19. Web site: Marla B. Sokolowski . CIFAR . 30 July 2020.
  20. Web site: Do . Liz . Marla B. Sokolowski and W. Thomas Boyce named CIFAR Distinguished Fellows . CIFAR . 3 October 2022 . 23 January 2023.
  21. Web site: Sasaki . Chris . University Professor Marla Sokolowski honoured for a career of inspiring and guiding students . University of toronto Faculty of Arts and Sciences . 25 May 2022 . U of T . 23 January 2023.
  22. Web site: All Medals RSC . RSC . 20 September 2020.
  23. Web site: Marla Sokolowski Wins Distinguished Investigator Award . U of T News . 30 July 2020.
  24. Web site: Canadian Science Publishing Senior Investigator Award . Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences . 30 July 2020.
  25. Web site: The Genetics Society of Canada . McMaster Archive . 30 July 2020.
  26. Web site: Marla B. Sokolowski . Academic Minute . 30 May 2017 . 30 July 2020.
  27. Web site: Young Scientist Award . Genetics Society of Canada . 30 July 2020.
  28. Web site: Marla Sokolowski . Expert File . 30 July 2020.
  29. Web site: Nature vs Nurture Q and A with Marla Sokolowski . CIFAR . 29 September 2020.
  30. Web site: Organization of Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development . OISE . 30 July 2020.
  31. Web site: Fraser Mud Institute for Human Development . ISSUU . 31 January 2013 . 30 July 2020.
  32. Web site: Fraser Mustard's vision for kids lives on . The Toronto Star . 2 October 2012 . 30 July 2020.
  33. Web site: SECD Advisory Committee . SECD . 28 August 2020.
  34. Web site: Conference History . Gordon Research Conference . 28 August 2020.

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