Programme

André Marques
Group leader in Department of Chromosome Biology at the MPIPZ in Cologne, Germany
https://www.mpipz.mpg.de/5028512/marques

Title: The evolutionary dynamics of repeat-based holocentromeres

My current and future research goals involve manipulating chromosome behaviour and meiotic processes to create novel strategies in synthetic chromosome biology and inducing genetic diversity with potential applications for sustainable agriculture and food security. We also investigate chromosome structure and function in plants using molecular biology and genomics techniques, with a focus on unravelling the role of chromosomal organization in epigenome, cell division, and evolution. Currently we are starting a program to apply CRISPR/Cas9 approaches to design chromosomes for optimizing meiotic recombination control and understanding centromere function.

Joana Meier
Royal Society University Research Fellow and Group Leader in the Tree of Life programme, Sanger Institute, UK
https://www.sanger.ac.uk/group/meier-group/

Title: Rapid chromosomal rearrangements and their role in speciation in Neotropical butterflies

My main research focus is on speciation and evolutionary genomics. Why do some taxa rapidly generate new species, whereas others remain species-poor? I am particularly interested in the role of hybridisation and chromosomal rearrangements in rapid speciation and adaptation. I study the genomes of different groups of animals with large variation in the speed of speciation. For example, some ithomiine butterflies and peacock spiders are branching into new species much faster than their close relatives, and in fact most other creatures. Using whole genome sequencing and comparative analysis of hundreds of butterflies and spiders, my team identifies how chromosomal rearrangement, hybridisation, and the genetic makeup of key traits facilitate the rapid formation of new species. We combine the genomics work with more experimental, behavioural and ecological work to get a full understanding of how and why some lineages adapt and split into many species at a fast pace.

Ines Drinnenberg
Group Leader, Researcher DR at Nuclear dynamics Unit, Institut Curie, France
https://drinnenberg-lab.com/

Title: TBA

In our lab we are integrating tools in molecular and evolutionary biology, genomics and biochemistry to study the evolution of chromatin and genome architecture. One of our current research focuses is on centromeres – specialized chromosomal regions, which enable the assembly of the kinetochore protein complex and the attachment of spindle microtubules to ensure the faithful segregation of sister chromatids during cell division. More specifically, we are interested in the evolution of organisation of holocentric chromosomes in insects as our model system. Another line of research in our lab addresses the evolutionary dynamics of spatial genome organisation, its impact on genome function and interplay with the evolution of the linear genome.

Marcial Escudero
Associate Professor at Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Seville, Spain
https://marcialescuderolab.weebly.com/

Title: From chromosome shifts to clades: Macroevolutionary insights from holocentric true sedges

Our research is centered on understanding biodiversity and the processes driving the diversification and evolution of flowering plants at multiple evolutionary scales. Biodiversity is unevenly distributed, varying significantly across geographic space (e.g., latitudinal gradients, biodiversity hotspots) and across the tree of life (e.g., shifts in diversification rates).
In our lab we employ a range of approaches, including phylogenetics, biogeography, biodiversity genomics, phylogeography, cytogenetics, herbarium studies, and phylogenetic comparative methods. These tools allow us to address two main objectives: (i) to quantify biodiversity by determining how many species exist, how they are delimited, and how they are related, and (ii) to uncover the mechanisms that generate and maintain the observed patterns of biodiversity.
A significant aspect of our research focuses on chromosomal evolution, particularly in holocentric sedges (Cyperaceae), which possess, like other holocentric organisms, unique chromosome structures with centromeric activity distributed along their entire length. We explore how chromosomal rearrangements in these organisms influence micro- and macroevolutionary patterns, including speciation and genome evolution. This line of inquiry sheds light on the broader implications of chromosomal architecture in shaping biodiversity and evolutionary trajectories.