How predictable is evolution? 
What will happen if one replays the tape of evolution?
Will history repeat itself or will new events occur?

​Restrictive and directional natural selection favors certain highly specific characteristics,
which typically results in convergent phenotypic solutions, but --- 
​to what extent the molecular mechanisms behind common adaptive traits are also convergent and predictable? 
An effective avenue for answering this question is to examine cases of convergent evolution at the molecular level. One example of this is the repeated evolution of resistance to toxic plants among herbivorous insects, and the insensitivity to poisonous preys of fearless predators.

​There are three chapters of my thesis:
  • ​Predictable evolution of Orthopteran cardenolide insensitivity
  • The evolution of Na+,K+-ATPase in relation to predatory feeding and lucibufagins sequestration in fireflies
  • Parallel molecular evolution of toxin resistance in a natural prey-predator system
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