Orive

Maria E. Orive

Associate Professor
Evolutionary Theory, Population Genetics
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Phone: (785) 864-3763
Fax: (785) 864-5860


Courses Taught

BIOL 350 - Principles of Genetics
BIOL 570 - Introduction to Biostatistics
BIOL 743 - Population Genetics
BIOL 950 - Evolutionary Mechanisms

University Service

Faculty Ombudsmen
University Sabbatical Leave Committee
Department Diversity Development Committee (Chair)
Undergraduate Biology Committee

Area of Interest and Research

  • Theoretical population genetics
  • Life history evolution
  • Relationship of population structure and life-history attributes to gene flow
  • Hybridization and genetic diversity
  • Within-host viral population dynamics

My research area is theoretical population genetics; I use mathematical models to investigate the roles that such complexities as clonal and asexual reproduction, non-random mating, and different patterns and types of dispersal play in determining genetic structure; I also apply evolutionary theory to questions of how these different life histories evolved. Specific areas of present and future research include models investigating the role that life history plays in determining effective population size and levels of local differentiation, the use of multi-locus genotype information in analyzing hybrid zones, tradeoffs between clonal and sexual life phases, the evolution of senescence, and the dynamics of viral populations within their hosts.

Representative Publications

T.N. Marriage, S. Hudman, M.E. Mort, M.E. Orive, R.G. Shaw, and J.K. Kelly. 2009. Direct estimation of the mutation rate at dinucleotide microsatellite loci in Arabidopsis Thaliana (Brassicaceae). Heredity 103:310–317.

Orive, M. E., M.N. Stearns, J. K. Kelly, M. Barfield, M.S. Smith and R. D. Holt. 2005. Viral infection in internally structured hosts. I. Conditions for persistent infection. J. Theoretical Biology 232:453–466.

Williamson, S., S.M. Perry, C.D. Bustamante, M.E. Orive, M.N. Stearns, and J.K. Kelly. 2005. A statistical characterization of consistent patterns of human immunodeficiency virus evolution within infected patients. Molecular Biology and Evolution 22(3):456–68.

Kelly, J. K., S. Williamson, M. E. Orive, M. Smith, and R. D. Holt. 2003. Linking dynamical and population genetic models of persistent viral infection. American Naturalist 162:14–28.

Orive, M. E. and N. H. Barton. 2002. Associations between cytoplasmic and nuclear loci in hybridizing populations. Genetics 162:1469–1485.

Williamson, S. and M. E. Orive. 2002. The genology of a sequence subject to purifying selection at multiple sites. Molecular Biology and Evolution 19:1376–1384.

Orive, M. E. 2001. Somatic mutations in organisms with complex life histories. Theoretical Population Biology 59:235–249.

Asmussen, M.A. and M.E. Orive. 2000. The effects of pollen and seed migration on nuclear-dicytoplasmic systems. I. Nonrandom associations and equilibrium structure with both maternal and paternal cytoplasmic inheritance. Genetics 155:813–831.

Orive, M.E. and M.A. Asmussen. 2000. The effects of pollen and seed migration on nuclear-dicytoplasmic systems. II. A new method for estimating plant gene flow from joint nuclear-cytoplasmic data. Genetics 155:833–854.

Otto, S.P. and M.E. Orive. 1995. Evolutionary consequences of mutation and selection within an individual. Genetics 141:1173–1187.

Orive, M.E. 1995. Senescence in organisms with clonal reproduction and complex life-histories. American Naturalist 145: 90–108.

Orive, M.E. 1993. Effective population size in organisms with complex life-histories. Theoretical Population Biology 44: 316–340.

Graduate Students

Tara Marriage, Ph.D. 2009 (post-doctoral researcher, University of Kansas)
Qinqin Gong, M.A. 2009
Elizabeth Slade, M.A. 2007
Linda Wachsberg, M.S. 2006
Scott Williamson, Ph.D. 2003 (Assistant Professor, Cornell University)


The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.