The common starfish Asterias rubens
climbing a seagrass leave in the Baltic Sea in search of recently settled blue mussels as prey. By courtesy of Thorsten Reusch.
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The fluorescent dye DAPI
is commonly used to stain the DNA in the nuclei of Caenorhabditis elegans body cells, thus visualizing the nematode’s anatomy. By courtesy of Hinrich Schulenburg
Pathogenic Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria
marked by Red Fluorescent Protein, have infected and overgrown the body of a Caenorhabditis elegans nematode. By courtesy of Andrei Papkou, Schulenburg group.
The marine midge Clunio marinus
is a model organism for biological clock research. By courtesy of Tobias Kaiser.
Confocal laser scanning microscopy image
of the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici during the infection of a wheat leaf. The hyphae of Z. tritici is penetrating an open stoma on the leaf surface. of the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici (in green) during the infection of a wheat leaf. The hyphae of Z. tritici is visible in green. The tip of the hyphae (in the back) is penetrating an open stoma on the leaf surface. By courtesy of Janine Haueisen, Stukenbrock group.
Confocal laser scanning microscopy image
of the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici (in green) during the infection of a wheat leaf. The hyphae of Z. tritici is visible in green. The tip of the hyphae (in the back) is penetrating an open stoma on the leaf surface. By courtesy of Janine Haueisen, Stukenbrock group.
A freshwater polyp Hydra oligactis
bearing a germ-cell tumor. It represents the first reported and thoroughly described malignant cancer in a pre-bilaterian animal. By courtesy of Thomas Bosch.
The solitary bee Rediviva longimanus
is endemic to the Greater Cape Floristic Region. With the elongated forelegs it collects floral oil from the spurs of its host plants of the genus Diascia. By courtesy of Michael Kuhlmann.
A Transgenic Hydra
expressing GFP in the head. The Hydra Transgenic Facility allows us to explore the function of different genes and proteins in vivo in a traditional developmental model. By courtesy of Thomas Bosch.
Floral oil producing Diascia floribunda
has long twin spurs that coevolved with the front legs of their oil-collecting bee pollinators. By courtesy of Michael Kuhlmann.
Electron micrograph
of a Caenorhabditis elegans nematode. By courtesy of Antje Thomas, Schulenburg group.
A female
of the sex-role reversed pipefish Syngnathus typhle. By courtesy of Olivia Roth.
A sea anemone from the Mediterranean (Anemonia sulcata)
Symbiontic algae are responsible for the purple colour of the tips of the tentacles. By courtesy of Thorsten Reusch.
Underwater cave in the Mediterranean Sea
covered with anemones of the genus Parazoanthus. Individuals form colonies connected by stolons. By courtesy of Thorsten Reusch..
A male blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla).
Our focal study species to study the genetic architecture of migratory traits. By courtesy of Miriam Liedvogel.
Two pipefish females
of the species Syngnathus typhle swimming in the experimental aquaria at the GEOMAR. By courtesy of Olivia Roth.
A male blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
fitted with a light level geolocation - a method using measured ambient light level to establish geographical location during bird migration. By courtesy of Miriam Liedvogel.
Mouse testicular cell spreads.
Mice have 19 Autosome pairs and two sex chromosomes. The DNA is stained using DAPI in blue. Synaptonemal Complex Protein syp3 is stained in green using syp3 primary and Alexa-Flour-488 secondary antobodies. By courtesy of Alina Jeschke, Odenthal-Hesse group.
The fluorescent dye DAPI
is commonly used to stain the DNA in the nuclei of Caenorhabditis elegans body cells, thus visualizing the nematode’s anatomy. By courtesy of Hinrich Schulenburg
The brood pouch
of a pregnant pipefish male (Syngnathus typhle) filled with embryos that are connected to a placenta-like structure. By courtesy of Olivia Roth.
Research training group "Translational evolutionary research"
The RTG TransEvo is a DFG funded Research Training Group on "Translational Evolutionary Research"
Evolution is the central theory of the life sciences. The core idea of the proposed RTG is to study and promote its key relevance to applied problems of societal concern. Unintended outcomes of human intervention often result from actions that influence natural selection. For example, the usage of antibiotics or anti-cancer drugs in medicine, of pesticides in agriculture, or human perturbation of the earth's ecosystems directly change natural selection and thereby affect the evolution of organisms. Therefore, the development of sustainable solutions to such emerging challenges can only be achieved by explicit consideration of the influenced evolutionary processes. Yet, to date, the translation of evolutionary concepts to applied problems is only rarely attempted. In turn, the required experimental tests in these areas have the potential to further advance evolutionary theory – to the mutual benefit of translational and basic research. Thus, the overarching aim of the proposed RTG TransEvo is to train two main competences among the doctoral candidates: On the one hand, the use of knowledge and concepts from fundamental research in evolutionary biology in order to enhance our understanding of current challenges in applied fields and, on the other hand, the use of the novel insights obtained in order to enrich our understanding of evolution. The RTG TransEvo will promote the translation of evolutionary thinking into three applied fields: (i) medicine, (ii) food production, and (iii) wildlife conservation. Although evolutionary theory is occasionally considered for applied problems, this is usually done independently in the distinct applied fields, often using different approaches and concepts – in spite of similar underlying selection processes. The RTG TransEvo specifically brings together these common concepts, in order to achieve added insights into the applied challenges. The proposed training of doctoral candidates is explicitly interdisciplinary and organized in tandem projects. Each of these consists of two sub-projects that address a related problem, yet use distinct albeit complementary research approaches, directly generating potential for synergistic interactions. The different tandem projects are interconnected at various levels, which will aid the
establishment of a stimulating, interdisciplinary research network for the doctoral candidates. The doctoral training further includes a structured programme with several complementary elements, such as initial rotations, a monthly TransEvo Core Seminar, various science and soft skill courses, yearly retreats and workshops. The RTG TransEvo also provides specific training for young postdocs, directly after their doctorate, representing a career group that is commonly neglected by the available educational programmes. The offered training will help them acquire the necessary leadership and management skills on their path to scientific independence. In consideration of the numerous applied problems with an evolutionary basis, we foresee an increasing need of scientists with an interdisciplinary skill set, capable of translating insights from fundamental research into distinct applied fields. The RTG TransEvo is set up to promote the young scientists with the necessary skills, competence, and experience.
- Description of tandems and doctoral projects -
Tandem 1: Evolutionary management of harvested populations
Doctoral Project 1.1: Fisheries-induced evolution (PI Thorsten Reusch)
Doctoral Project 1.2: Evolutionary fishery economics and management (PI Martin Quaas)
Tandem 2: Evolution of sugar beet and its associated pathogens: implications for plant breeding and disease control
Doctoral project 2.1: Genetic analysis of leaf spot resistance (PI Christian Jung)
Doctoral project 2.2: Plant pathogen evolution on cultivated and wild plant hosts (PI Eva Stukenbrock)
Tandem 3: Evolution and spread of plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance
Doctoral project 3.1: Plasmid evolution in the food industry (PI Tal Dagan)
Doctoral project 3.2: Mathematical modelling of the evolution and spread of plasmid mediated antibiotic resistance (PI Hildegard Uecker)
Tandem 4: The evolution of human pathogens under antibiotic therapy
Doctoral project 4.1: Adaptation of Mtbc to antibiotic treatment (PI Stefan Niemann)
Doctoral project 4.2: Efficacy of sequential therapy against clinical Pseudomonas (PI Hinrich Schulenburg)
Tandem 5: Characterizing trade-offs of the human FUT2 gene for the improvement of gut health
Doctoral project 5.1: Relationship between Lactobacillus diversity and host FUT2 genotype (PI Charles Franz)
Doctoral project 5.2: Evaluating the gut microbiome for adaptation to host Fut2 genotype (PI John Baines)
Tandem 6: Evolution of key life history events – the sex-specific link between fertility, pregnancy and longevity
Doctoral project 6.1: Late-life fertility and longevity in humans (PI Almut Nebel)
Doctoral project 6.2: Pregnancy/late-life fertility and longevity in sex-role reversed pipefish (PI Olivia Roth)
Tandem 7: The evolution of pancreatic cancer cells under chemotherapy
Doctoral project 7.1: Experimental analysis of the evolution of pancreatic cancer cells under chemotherapy (PI Susanne Sebens)
Doctoral project 7.2: Mathematical modelling of the evolution of pancreatic cancer cells under chemotherapy (PI Arne Traulsen)
Kiel Evolution Center
Biologiezentrum
Am Botanischen Garten
24118 Kiel
fon+49 (0) 431-880-4141
mail hschulenburg@zoologie.uni-kiel.de
