Email: hlusko@berkeley.edu

Phone: (510) 643-8851

Web page: http://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/hlusko/

Her research: Leslea studies the genetic basis of mammalian skeletal variation and evolution. She is particularly interested in primate teeth and takes a two-pronged approach to the issue that integrates quantitative genetics with paleontology.

Her goals: "My overall goal is to better understand how genes have influenced anatomical variation so that when we go back and look at the fossil record, we can interpret changes in bony morphology with a more accurate understanding of what that's reflecting at a genetic level."

How she works: "In my Berkeley lab, I work to unravel the genetic variance of mammalian teeth — but my fieldwork is primarily African, focused on the last 10 million years."

On her field site in Ethiopia: "This place is just littered with monkeys! Every other fossil you pick up is a monkey with a really nice dentition!"

What she loves about research: "I got into this because I love to find fossils …. When it comes right down to it, every new fossil — that's where the data are going to come from. The way that we interpret those data may change — but that fossil I found will still be there, and will be interpreted in new ways and better ways."

Hlusko, L.J., R.D. Sage, and M.C. Mahaney. 2010. Modularity in the Mammalian Dentition: Mice and Monkeys Share a Common Dental Genetic Architecture. Journal of Experimental Zoology, Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution (Mol. Dev. Evol.), 314B, 1-29.

Koh, C., E. Bates, E. Broughton, N.T. Do, Z. Fletcher, M.C. Mahaney, and L.J. Hlusko. 2010. Genetic Integration of Molar Cusp Size Variation in Baboons. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 142:246–260.

Moustakas, J.E., K.K. Smith, L.J. Hlusko. 2010. Evolution and development of the mammalian dentition: Insights from the marsupial Monodelphis domestica. Wiley Online Library, Developmental Dynamics. Article first published online: 24 Nov 2010. DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22502   

Njau, J.K., L.J. Hlusko. 2010. Fine-tuning paleoanthropological reconnaissance with high-resolution satellite imagery: the discovery of 28 new sites in Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution, 59, 680-684.

Frost SR, Haile-Selassie Y, and Hlusko LJ. 2009. Chapter 6 Cercopithecidae. In: Ardipithecus kadabba: Late Miocene Evidence from Middle Awash, Ethiopia (Y. Haile-Selassie, G WoldeGabriel eds). University of California Press, Berkeley.

Hlusko LJ and Mahaney MC. 2009. Baboon model for dental development. In: The Baboon in Biomedical Research, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research Press, San Antonio, TX. Springer, New York. Pages 207-223.  

Hlusko LJ and MC Mahaney. 2009. Quantitative genetics, pleiotropy, and morphological integration in the dentition of Papio hamadryas. Evolutionary Biology 36(1):5 (DOI 10.1007/s11692-008-9048-1)  

Hlusko, L.J., M.C. Mahaney. 2009. Quantitative Genetics, Pleiotropy, and Morphological Integration in the Dentition of Papio hamadryas. Evol Bio, l36:5–18. DOI 10.1007/s11692-008-9048-1

Hlusko, L.J., M.C. Mahaney. 2009. The Baboon Model for Dental Development. Pp. 207-223 in J.L. VandeBerg et al. (eds.), The Baboon in Biomedical Research. DOI 10.1007/978-0-387-75991-3 10, C _ Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009

Louchart A, Wesselman H, Blumenschine RJ, Hlusko LJ, Njau JK, Black MT, Asnake M, White TD. 2009. Taphonomic, avian, and small vertebrate indicators of Ardipithecus ramidus habitat. Science 326:66 (66e1-66e4)

Louchart, A., H. Wesselman, R.J. Blumenschine, L.J. Hlusko, J.K. Njau, M.T. Black, M. Asnake, Tim D. White. 2009. Taphonomic, Avian, and Small-Vertebrate Indicators of Ardipithecus ramidus Habitat. Science, 326, 66.

Boisserie, J-R, F. Guy, A. Delagnes, L.J. Hlusko, F. Bibi, Y. Beyene, and C. Guillemot. 2008. New paleoanthropological research in the Plio-Pleistocene Omo Group, Lower Omo Valley, SNNPR (Southern Nations, Nationalities and People Regions), Ethiopia. C. R. Palevol 7:429-439.

Boisserie, J-R, Guy F, Delagnes A, Hlusko LJ, Bibi F, Beyene Y, and Guillemot C. 2008. New paleoanthropological research in the Plio-Pleistocene Omo Group, Lower Omo Valley, SNNPR (Southern Nations, Nationalities and People Regions), Ethiopia. C. R. Palevol 7:429-439.  

Hlusko LJ. 2008. Book Review. The Ape in the Tree: An Intellectual and Natural History of Proconsul, by A. Walker and P. Shipman. Current Anthropology 49(2):337-338.

Hlusko, LJ. 2008. Book Review. The Ape in the Tree: An Intellectual and Natural History of Proconsul by A. Walker and P. Shipman. Current Anthropology 49(2):337-338.

Rizk OT, Amugongo S, Mahaney MC, and Hlusko LJ. 2008. The quantitative genetic analysis of primate dental variation: History of the approach and prospects for the future. In: Technique and Application in Dental Anthropology (J.D. Irish and G.C. Nelson, eds). Cambridge University Press. (ISBN-13:9780521870610).

Rizk, O.T., S. Amugongo, M.C. Mahaney, and L.J. Hlusko. 2008. The quantitative genetic analysis of primate dental variation: History of the approach and prospects for the future. In: Technique and Application in Dental Anthropology (J.D. Irish and G.C. Nelson, eds). Cambridge University Press.

Ambrose SH, Bell CJ, Bernor RL, Boisserie JR, Darwent CM, DeGusta D, Deino A, Garcia N, Haile-Selassie Y, Head JJ, Howell FC, Kyule MD, Manthi FK, Mathu EM, Nyamai CM, Pickford M, Saegusa H, Stidham TA, Williams MAJ, and Hlusko LJ. 2007. The paleoecology and paleogeographic context of Lemudong'o Locality 1, a Late Miocene terrestrial fossil site in Southern Kenya. Kirtlandia 56:38-52.  

Ambrose SH, MD Kyule, LJ Hlusko. 2007. History of paleontological research in the Narok District of Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 1-37.  

Ambrose, S.H., C.J. Bell, R.L. Bernor, J.R. Boisserie, C.M. Darwent, D. DeGusta, A. Deino, N. Garcia, Y. Haile-Selassie, J.J. Head, F.C. Howell, M.D. Kyule, F.K. Manthi, E.M. Mathu, C.M. Nyamai, M. Pickford, H. Saegusa, T.A. Stidham, M.A.J. Williams, and L.J. Hlusko. 2007. The Paleoecology and Paleogeographic Context of Lemudong'o Locality 1, a Late Miocene Terrestrial Fossil Site in Southern Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 38-52.

Ambrose, S.H., M.D. Kyule, and L.J. Hlusko. 2007. History of paleontological research in the Narok District of Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 1-37.

Hlusko L.J. and M.C. Mahaney. 2007. A multivariate comparison of dental variation in wild and captive populations of baboons (Papio hamadryas). Archives of Oral Biology 52:195-200.

Hlusko LJ and Mahaney MC. 2007. A multivariate comparison of dental variation in wild and captive populations of baboons (Papio hamadryas). Archives of Oral Biology 52:195-200.  

Hlusko LJ and Mahaney MC. 2007. Of mice and monkeys: Quantitative genetic analyses of size variation along the dental arcade. In: Dental Perspectives on Human Evolution: State of the Art Research in Dental Paleoanthropology (S. Bailey and J-J. Hublin, eds.). Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 237-245.

Hlusko LJ and Y Haile-Selassie. 2007. Nyanzachoerus syrticus (Artiodactyla, Suidae) from the late Miocene of Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 152-157.   

Hlusko LJ, Do N, Mahaney MC. 2007. Genetic correlations between mandibular molar cusp areas in baboons. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 132:445-454.  

Hlusko LJ, Y Haile-Selassie, D Degusta. 2007. Late Miocene Bovidae (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) from Lemudong'o, Narok District, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 163-172.  

Hlusko LJ. 2007. A new late Miocene species of Paracolobus and other Cercopithecoidea (Mammalia: Primates) fossils from Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 72-85.  

Hlusko LJ. 2007. Earliest evidence for Atherurus and Xenohystrix (Hystricidae, Rodentia) in Africa, from the late Miocene site of Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 86-91.  

Hlusko, L.J. 2007. A new late Miocene species of Paracolobus and other Cercopithecoid (Mammalia: Primates) fossils from Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 72-85.

Hlusko, L.J. 2007. Earliest evidence for Atherurus and Xenohystrix (Hystricidae, Rodentia) in Africa, from the late Miocene site of Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 86-91.

Hlusko, L.J. and M.C. Mahaney. 2007. Of mice and monkeys: Quantitative genetic analyses of size variation along the dental arcade. In: Dental Perspectives on Human Evolution: State of the Art Research in Dental Paleoanthropology (S. Bailey and J-J. Hublin, eds.). Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 237-245.

Hlusko, L.J. and Y. Haile-Selassie. 2007. Nyanzochoerus syrticus (Artiodactyla: Suidae) from the late Miocene of Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 152-157.

Hlusko, L.J., N. Do, and M.C. Mahaney. 2007. Genetic correlations between mandibular molar cusp areas in baboons. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 132:445-454.

Hlusko, L.J., Y. Haile-Selassie, and D. DeGusta. 2007. Late Miocene Bovidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) from Lemudong'o, Narok District, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 163-172.

Pickford M and LJ Hlusko. 2007. Late Miocene Procaviid hyracoids (Hyracoidea: Dendrohyrax) from Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 106-111.  

Pickford M. and L.J. Hlusko. 2007. Late Miocene procaviid hyracoids from Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 106-111.

Saegusa H and LJ Hlusko. 2007. New late Miocene elephantoid (Mammalia: Proboscidea) fossils from Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 140-147.  

Saegusa H. and L.J. Hlusko. 2007. New late Miocene elephantoid (Mammalia: Proboscidea) fossils from Lemudong'o, Kenya. Kirtlandia 56: 140-147.

Hlusko LJ, Lease LR, Mahaney MC. 2006. The evolution of genetically correlated traits: tooth size and body size in baboons. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 131:420-427.

Hlusko LJ. 2006. A New Large Pliocene Colobine Species (Mammalia: Primates) from Asa Issie, Ethiopia. Geobios 39:57-69.  

Hlusko LJ. 2006. Book Review: The Human Fossil Record, Volume Four: Craniodental Morphology of Early Hominids (General Australopithecus, Paranthropus, Orrorin), and Overview by J.H. Schwartz and I. Tattersall. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 131:148-149.

Hlusko, L.J. 2006. A new large Pliocene colobine species (Mammalia: Primates) from Asa Issie, Ethiopia. Geobios 39:57-69.

Hlusko, L.J., L.R. Lease, and M.C. Mahaney. 2006. The evolution of genetically correlated traits: tooth size and body size in baboons. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 131:420-427.

White TD, WoldeGabriel G, Asfaw B, Ambrose S, Beyene Y, Bernor RL, Boisserie JR, Currie B, Gilbert H, Haile-Selassie Y, Hart WK, Hlusko LJ, Howell FC, Kono RT, Louchart A, Lovejoy CO, Renne PR, Saegusa H, Vrba E, Wesselman H, and Suwa G. 2006. Asa Issie, Aramis, and the origin of Australopithecus. Nature 440:883-889.

Sherwood RJ, Hlusko LJ, Duren DL, Ench VC, and Walker A. 2005. The mandibular symphysis of large-bodied hominoids. Human Biology 77(6):735-759  

Haile-Selassie Y, Hlusko LJ, and Howell FC. 2004. A new species of Plesiogulo (Mustelidae, Carnivora) from the Late Miocene of Africa. Palaeontologia Africana 40:85-88.

Hlusko LJ, Maas ML, Mahaney MC. 2004. Statistical genetics of molar cusp patterning in pedigreed baboons: Implications for primate dental development and evolution. Molecular and Developmental Evolution (J. Exp. Zoolog.) 302B:268-283.

Hlusko LJ, Suwa G, Kono R, and Mahaney MC. 2004. Genetics and the evolution of primate enamel thickness: A baboon model. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 124:223-233.  

Hlusko LJ. 2004. Integrating the genotype and phenotype in hominid paleontology. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 101(9): 2653-2657.   

Hlusko LJ. 2004. Protostylid variation in Australopithecus. Journal of Human Evolution 46: 579-594.