GRK 2984:  Evolutionary Genomics: Consequences of Biodiverse Reproductive Systems (EvoReSt)

• Subject Area: Plant Sciences ; Microbiology, Virology and Immunology ; Zoology
• Term: since 2025
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 516452003

Genome sequencing has become a key technology that has revolutionized biological sciences and is a cornerstone of evolutionary biology. Reproductive systems are major denominators for genome evolution over the whole tree of life. The common topics for this research training group (RTG) are to study the genomic causes and consequences of different reproductive systems. We will address three fundamental overarching questions across the tree of life: How do different modes of reproduction across the tree of life avoid genomic decay? How do interactions of different (sub)genomes affect genome evolution under different modes of inheritance? How can methodology be improved to analyze genome evolution? In prokaryotes the combination of lateral gene transfer (LGT) and clonality results in reticulate, pangenome-like structures, while meiotic sex in eukaryotes results in vertically evolving lineages. LGT can avoid accumulation of deleterious mutations in prokaryotes, whereas for the large eukaryotic nuclear genomes sex and reciprocal recombination are more efficient for purifying selection of harmful mutations. Efficacy of these mechanisms under different breeding systems (outcrossing/selfing) and life cycles, however, still needs to be investigated. Asexual reproduction exists in eukaryotes in various forms: apomixis, thelytoky, and fission; these reproductive modes occur in various developmental pathways in animals, plants and fungi and shape evolution of nuclear genomes. Organelles of eukaryotic organisms (mitochondria and plastids) have originated via endosymbiosis and represent small asexual genetic compartments. Organellar-nuclear compatibility and coordination are major factors in eukaryote evolution, but little is known how they co-evolve under different reproductive systems. In this RTG we will study (1) Evolution of nuclear genomes under various forms of sexual and asexual reproduction; (2) Interactions of genomes via endosymbiosis and LGT; (3) Novel methods of genome analysis, inlcuding mutation-selection models. We complement each other in our expertise on evolutionary theory, genomics bioinformatic skills, and functional molecular work for a broad PhD training. We will work here on emerging model systems of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms to cover the diversity of modes of reproduction and evolutionary processes that is not present in the traditional standard model organisms. Our training program includes special seminars, workshops, methods courses, lab visits, conference presentations and a joint supervision concept. The aim of this RTG is to train a new generation of biologists that are comfortable with the technical aspects of comparative evolutionary genomics and have acquired the understanding of evolutionary theory that is necessary for genome comparisons. This training concept will qualify the PhDs students for a broad spectrum of career options.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Participating Institution: Max-Planck-Institut für Multidisziplinäre Naturwissenschaften
• Spokesperson: Professorin Dr. Elvira Hörandl
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Christoph Bleidorn; Professor Dr. Rolf Daniel; Dr. Ines Friedrich; Professor Dr. Mark Maraun; Professor Dr. Argyris Papantonis; Professorin Dr. Stefanie Pöggeler; Dr. Jochen Rink; Professor Dr. Stefan Scheu; Dr. Johannes Söding; Professor Dr. Jan de Vries; Dr. Sophie de Vries