Esther van den Bos

Esther van den Bos

PhD student

Rapid evolution and TE-induced genetic variation in invasive ants.

The constant need to adapt is met differently by each individual, population, or species. In some cases, the success at adapting is obvious, e.g. the behavioral adaptation in humans, in other instances though it can be quite puzzling. Our model organism, the invasive ant species Cardiocondyla obscurior, successfully colonizes new habitats even though genetic variation is low. With my project, we aim to uncover how phenotypic plasticity, cryptic variation and transposable elements (TEs) interplay during this rapid evolution and how especially TEs function as genetic innovators during adaptation.

Janina Rinke

Janina Rinke

PhD student

The evolution of genome compartmentalization in the ant genus Cardiocondyla.

I am working with different species of the ant Cardiocondyla to investigate the evolution of transposable elements in these ants. My main research goal is to get an idea how transposable elements might have influenced the genome evolution of this genus and evolution of these ants in general. Interestingly, the genome of the ant C. obscurior – of which we have a high-quality genome assembly – is highly compartmentalized into slowly evolving TE-poor regions and fast-evolving TE-rich regions. By using comparative genomic, population genomic and transcriptomic studies, I am hoping to shed light on this phenomenon in Cardiocondyla spp and aim to unravel its effects on the species’ ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Isabell Kaufhold

Isabell Kaufhold

MSc student

Genome evolution in Cardiocondyla ants.

Nils Rensing

Nils Rensing

MSc student

Active TEs in superorganisms.

Lukas Schrader

Lukas Schrader

PI

My goal as a researcher is understanding the interplay between "hard-wired" genomic traits, environmental cues, "soft-wired" regulatory mechanisms, and the phenotype.

Former Members

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