RESEARCH LINES
We combine 'omics' data with bioinformatics, computational biology, and molecular and developmental biology techniques to explore the regulation and evolution of animal development. Our research also examines the impact of environmental stressors on marine biodiversity. Additionally, we are committed to expanding the diversity of animal model systems in research by developing new genetically tractable aquatic organisms, providing deeper insights into fundamental biological processes
Research Line: Functional genomics and evolution of biomineralization across animals
Background: Many animal taxa construct mineralized body parts for support, defense, and feeding. This genetically regulated process typically involves the selective uptake of environmental minerals and the precise arrangement of crystals within an organic matrix. An external skeleton, a defining feature in numerous animal phyla, is believed to have been a driving force behind the expansion of metazoan life during the early Cambrian. Despite its significance, the genetic basis of invertebrate biomineralization and the evolutionary origins of these processes remain poorly understood.
Our research investigates how genes and their products interact to create biomaterials, providing insight into the fundamental mechanisms marine animals use to develop, maintain, repair, and evolve mineralized structures.
Open Questions:
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What is the genetic toolkit responsible for animal biomineralization?
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How do marine animals produce diverse mineralized structures?
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Are components of biomineralization pathways conserved across animals?
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If conserved, how do these components influence the morphology of biomaterials?
Research Line: Developmental genomics and evolution of cell types in animals
Background: Understanding the molecular and genetic basis of anatomical diversity is a central question in evolutionary developmental biology (EvoDevo). The structures that make up an animal—cell types, tissues, organs, and body parts—are heritable traits unique to each species. Since morphology emerges during development, fully understanding how anatomical structures evolve requires uncovering the genetic mechanisms that govern the development of specific features at the genomic, cellular, and tissue levels.
Our research explores the genome-wide dynamics of gene expression and cis-regulation, alongside cellular behaviors and morphogenetic movements during animal development. By integrating these approaches, we aim to uncover the mechanisms driving the evolution and diversification of cell types, tissues, and organs across animal lineages.
Open Questions:
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How do developmental pathways evolve over time?
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What are the evolutionarily conserved or universal principles of development?
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Which developmental processes underlie the generation of biological diversity?
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How does cis-regulation shape the evolution of animal development?
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What changes in cell type identity occur throughout animal evolution?
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How do gene regulatory networks adapt and evolve across species?
Research Line: Functional adaptation of marine invertebrates to changing environmental conditions
Background: For a long time, the environment was thought to play only a minor role in development. However, recent evidence reveals that environmental context significantly influences animal development, with genomes evolving mechanisms to respond to changing conditions. Developmental, or phenotypic, plasticity enables organisms to adjust their phenotype in response to specific environmental factors. Despite these insights, it remains unclear whether universal principles govern this plasticity or whether marine animals can respond to environmental stressors—such as climate change and ocean acidification—in similar ways.
Our research focuses on understanding how marine animals have adapted to their environments and how these adaptations shape their responses to climate change and ocean acidification. We aim to uncover how environmental changes drive functional adaptation and resilience in marine animals.
Open Questions:
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How do environmental stressors influence animal development?
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What impacts do climate change and ocean acidification have on the formation of mineralized structures?
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How will marine animals adapt to a rapidly changing world?
Research Line: Establishment of new aquatic experimental systems to understand organismal biology
Background: In recent decades, scientists have increasingly relied on a few well-established "model systems" supported by robust tools and research communities. While this approach has provided valuable insights, it offers a limited perspective on developmental diversity, restricting our understanding of animal evolution.
Advances in bioinformatics, imaging technologies, molecular biology, and omics now enable the rapid adaptation of techniques to a wider range of species, creating new opportunities for EvoDevo research. In this context, we are committed to expanding the diversity of aquatic animals studied in research and are focused on developing "new model systems" to investigate fundamental biological principles shared across all life, including humans.
To learn more about the aquatic species central to our research, explore our established and ongoing experimental models.
Research Line: Evolutionary genomics of animal-bacteria interactions and animal development
Background: Animal development has traditionally been viewed as an autonomous process driven solely by the genome. However, symbiotic microbes play a crucial role in many developmental processes, profoundly influencing the animal phenotype. Animals evolve in response to their dynamic environments, which are shaped not only by external habitats but also by their internal microbial symbionts. Over evolutionary time, these interactions occur during development, when the animal body plan is being established, contributing to the extraordinary diversity of animal life on Earth.
Consequently, animal development should be understood as an integrated animal-microbiome system, or holobiont. These intricate animal-bacterial interactions open exciting new avenues for advancing the field of EvoDevo. In this context, we are beginning to explore the role of animal-bacterial interactions in our experimental models.
Open Questions:
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How have bacteria contributed to the origin and evolution of animals?
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To what extent does animal development rely on bacterial partners?
Other interests
Here are additional topics of interest to our research, in no particular order:
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Understudied animal taxa in scientific research
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Phylogenomics and systematics
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Genome sequencing and evolutionary biology
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Comparative genomics
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Viral and microbial ecology and evolution
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Mathematical and predictive models applied to climate change and disease progression