Karen Sears

Karen Sears is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research focuses on developmental biology, evolutionary biology, paleobiology, theory, and tropical biology. Her lab investigates processes driving change in organisms during their lives and in lineages over time, with current topics including the developmental basis of bats' and marsupials' unique phenotypes and the developmental, cellular, and molecular basis of aging in bats. Selected publications include studies on bat teeth, DNA methylation age, and the initiation of chiropteran wing membranes.

Karen E. Sears is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA, with research interests spanning evolutionary developmental biology, mammalian evolution, morphological evolution, and paleontology. Her work explores the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying evolutionary changes in mammals, particularly focusing on limb and digit development, epigenetic aging, and the evolution of flight. Sears investigates how regulatory elements and DNA methylation networks contribute to phenotypic diversity and adaptation. Her research also includes paleontological studies of fossil mammals, offering insights into evolutionary transitions and morphological diversification. Through interdisciplinary approaches, she bridges developmental genetics and evolutionary biology to understand the origins of complex traits.