Research

Gene Regulation in Evolution: From Molecular to Extended Phenotypes

Phenotypic variation between individuals and species is largely driven by differences in gene expression and arises from, among other things, natural selection. Gene expression is regulated via sequence- and non-sequenced-based mechanisms, including cis-regulatory DNA elements, transcription factors, non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation, histone modifications, and other posttranscriptional and posttranslational processes. The relative contribution of these factors in gene regulatory networks as well as the processes underlying their evolution are, so far, poorly understood.
The scientific aim of GenEvo is to gain a better understanding of the evolution of complex and multi-layered gene regulatory systems. We will investigate which regulatory processes are evolutionarily conserved, which are prone to change and which selective regimes they underlie. By transferring methods developed for model species to other taxa, we will study gene regulatory evolution in a broader intra- and interspecific context. Some projects will even focus on the coevolution of gene regulation, by revealing how interacting species interfere with each other’s gene regulation.
Hint: Project 1-14 are initial RTG projects. Projects marked with "A" belong to associated PhD students. Their research is aligned with the aims of the RTG, but they are funded externally.
Information about individual projects:
Project I-01 - Mendez/Burger DNA methylation inference from archaeological bone: an epigenetic view of human adaptation to selective environmentsProject I-02 - Mulorz/König The molecular evolution of splicing regulationProject I-03 - Poetzsch/Hankeln Gene expression regulation in the adaptive evolution of the hypoxia-tolerant rodent SpalaxProject I-04 - Elzer/Zischler Epigenetic information carriers in human sperm cellsProject I-05 - Govind/Ketting Comparative analysis of nematode small-RNA pathways using Gametocyte specific factor-1 (GTSF-1)Project I-06 - Ceron-Noriega/Ketting Comparative analysis of evolutionary changes in the transcriptome and proteome in nematodesProject I-07 - Scalera/Beli Evolution of gene regulation induced by the ultraviolet radiation stress responseProject I-08 - Conrady/Wolf Structural Analysis of Monarch butterfly clock proteinsProject I-09 - Ewerling/May-Simera Evolution of 'cilia' proteins' gene regulatory functionsProject I-10 - Patterson/Baumann Epigenetic diversity and adaptation in clonal whiptail lizardsProject I-11 - Coulm/Libbrecht Epigenetic regulation of reproduction in antsProject I-12 - Caminer/Foitzik The role of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of division of labor in the ant Temnothorax longispinosusProject I-13 - Sistermans/Foitzik Dynamic gene expression in an interacting host and parasite systemProject I-14 - Carvalho/Kaltenpoth Evolution of molecular mechanisms regulating mutualism establishmentProject II-01 - Tawfik/Burger The recent evolution of human life historyProject II-03 - Jelacic/Hankeln Gene expression regulation in the adaptive evolution of the hypoxia-tolerant rodent SpalaxProject II-09 - Maißl/May-Simera Co-option of cilia proteins in gene regulatory processesProject II-11 - Bolder/Libbrecht Role of gene regulation in the social control of queen behavior in antsProject II-12 - Yildiz/Foitzik The role of gene regulation in division of labour in T. longispinosusProject II-13 - Blasi/Foitzik Parasite interference in the regulation of host gene expressionProject II-16 - Zimmer/Keller Valsecchi Evolutionary diversity of sex-chromosome dosage compensationProject II-17 - Wilhelm/Xu Evolution of the cellular regulation of a neurotoxin in the Colorado Potato BeetleProject II-18 - Müller/Huylmans Investigating the effect of environmental sex determination on gene regulationProject A-01 - Stoldt/Foitzik The transcriptomic basis of adaptive processes in ants of the genus TemnothoraxProject A-02 - Psalti/Libbrecht Consistency and molecular mechanisms of ant behaviourProject A-03 - Ho/Baumann Allele-specific expression in whiptail lizardsProject A-04 - Collin/Foitzik Genome-wide detection of selection & adaptation in a co-evolving slavemaking ant and its hostProject A-07 - Kalita/Keller Valsecchi Evolution of dosage compensation in dipteransProject A-10 - Lenhart/Foitzik Molecular regulation of division of labor and aging in social insectsProject A-11 - Wagh/Silies Cellular and circuit properties that drive differential feature extraction in visual interneuronsProject A-12 - Fraser/Huylmans Sex Determination in Termites