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Evolutionary research

In evolutionary research, we seek to understand the adaptive capacity of organisms (from viruses to vertebrates) to a changing environment and its mechanistic basis.

At the heart of Evolutionary Research at Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ is curiosity-driven research into scientific phenomena associated with change in biological systems, the processes that result in creation and erosion of biodiversity. At JYU the research quantify and explain changes across multiple levels of biological organization, from molecular networks, to individuals, populations and ecosystems. With a strong tradition of using experimental approaches (both in field and laboratory), evolutionary research at JYU moves beyond correlative analysis to validate evolutionary hypotheses and formulate new predictions: develop mechanistic tools to understand evolutionary dynamics of complex systems.   

Current research strengths are the integration of evolutionary biology with ecology (e.g. evolutionary ecology, life history evolution), quantifying complex biological interactions (e.g. host-microbe evolution, plant-fungi evolution) and using evolutionary theory in applied science (e.g. human-induced evolution). We emphasize the synergistic benefits of applying diverse approaches, such as experimental research, modelling (comprehensive eco-evolutionary dynamics) and a suite of contemporary ‘omics methodology (e.g. next generation sequencing and bioinformatics, stable isotope analyses, high performance liquid chromatography), to address complex evolutionary questions and to forecast evolutionary trajectories under theoretically and societally relevant scenarios.   

Sammakko-tutkimus
Evolutionary research examines the factors that influence the development, modification and adaptation of organisms in nature.

Research groups and projects

Research group

Environmental Physiology Lab

We study the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying organismal adaptation to environmental changes, within and across generations.
Research group

Evolutionary Environmental Biology

Understanding dynamic eco-evolutionary responses of natural populations to environmental change
Research group

Genetics, epigenetics, and evolution

We study the properties of genetic mutations and epigenetic changes, particularly how these properties affect evolutionary adaptation.
Research group

Invasion Biology Research group

We study factors contributing to the invasion success.
Research group

Penttinen group - Ecology and Evolution of Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance

Ecology and evolution of bacterial AMR
Research group

PlanBee

Adaptation of the honey bees into northern conditions.
Research group

Population and Evolutionary Genetics

Knott Laboratory: Population and Evolutionary Genetics
Research group

Stress genomics

Stress genomics
Research group

Sundberg group - Host-pathogen interactions

We explore the molecular details of how the bacterial CRISPR-Cas immunity is formed, and how the mucosal surfaces influence phage-bacterium interactions in pathogenic bacteria.
Research group

Wildlife Genomics

The Wildlife Genomics group uses a combination of empirical data and experiments to quantify the impacts of habitat variation on wildlife fitness.
Project

Fungiside effects on pest insects

We study how fungicides affect non-target pest insects.
Project

How does human activity shape the diversity of microbial communities in forest soils?

Metsän puolella ("In the Woods") MUUMAA-initiative
Project

Phenotypic and Genomic Effects of Size-Selective Fisheries

This project utilizes experimental zebrafish model system to study the effects of human-induced selection pressures on fish at genome, individual and population levels.