Project at a glance

Our group carries out research in the field of comparative genomics and molecular evolution, focusing on multiple genome analysis to elucidate and quantify evolutionary processes that shape the repertoires of functional genomic elements.

The research studies the functions of such elements on the basis of sequence variability among different species and within populations, and addresses questions concerning the robustness and evolvability of molecular systems.

Comparative genomics strives to understand “Nature’s experimentation”, which results in genomic sequence variability, by analysing the rapidly accumulating amounts of sequencing data to assess selection pressures on functional elements as well as to generate and to test hypotheses of the origin and evolution of biological complexity. In this framework, we employ multiple-genome analyses to elucidate and quantify evolutionary processes that shape the repertoires of protein-coding genes, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs, e.g. microRNAs), and Conserved Non-Coding sequences (CNCs), as well as to investigate their putative functions.

With a particular focus on medical and evolutionary questions, the group collaborates extensively with experimental and clinical laboratories and participates in international consortia, such as the VectorBase project for research on invertebrate vectors of human pathogens.