My laboratory explores the “how’s” and “why’s” of physiological design. Our primary physiological system is the digestive system, where we investigate the integrative design of gastrointestinal morphology and function. Our projects fall under two long-term interests; (1) the adaptive interplay between feeding habits and digestive physiology, and (2) the integrative mechanisms underlying the regulation of physiological performance.  For the former project, we take a broad comparative approach using fishes, amphibians, and reptiles to explore the adaptive link between natural feeding frequency, and the capacity to regulate gastrointestinal performance. The second program uses the Burmese python model to investigate the signals and the cellular and molecular pathways involved in the flexibility of tissue structure and function in response to fasting and digestion.