LOEWE Centre for
Translational Biodiversity Genomics
Understanding the genomic basis of biodiversity
Genomic diversity as a basis for biodiversity
Biodiversity is the result of 3.5 billion years of evolution and one of the most complex phenomena on earth. The LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics focusses on the genetic basis of biological diversity to make it accessible for basic and applied research. We sequence and study genomic variation across the tree of life to comprehend the origin and functional adaptations of diversity from genes to ecosystems (Comparative Genomics). The data addresses societal knowledge demands in applied fields, such as the genomic basis of biologically active substances (Natural Products Genomics), and the sustainable use and management of biological resources (Genomic Biomonitoring; Functional Environmental Genomics)
Main Objectives of TBG
- establish a new and taxonomically broad genome collection, the Senckenberg Biodiversity Genome Collection (SBGC) as an innovative digital and specimen-based museum collection
- compare genomic diversity across the tree of life to better understand the origin and functions of all levels of biological diversity (from genes to ecosystems)
- make genomic resources accessible for applied research, e.g. for a sustainable bioeconomy or natural resources management.
LOEWE-TBG is a joint research institution of the Senckenberg Nature Research Society, the Goethe University Frankfurt, the Justus Liebig University Gießen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology (MPIterMic), the Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP and is initially funded by the LOEWE programme of the State of Hesse, Germany.
Research at the centre is divided into four project areas and numerous individual and joint projects:
The LOEWE TBG laboratory centre and a bioinformatics unit provide a powerful infrastructure for the direct implementation of projects. Their results are made available to society via technology transfer and public relations.
News
Hidden or extinct? Genome analysis of a 120-year-old torpedo ray specimen confirms species status
14.11.2023
There are always little “treasures” to be found in museum collections – that’s what makes them so valuable for research. With today’s methods of analysis, new, detailed findings can be elicited from archives that are often centuries old. Scientists from the Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria, and the LOEWE-(TBG in Hesse, Germany, have now analysed the genetic data of a rare and presumably already extinct species of torpedo ray. It was collected, preserved, and described during the second Austro-Hungarian deep-sea expedition in the Red Sea between 1897 and 1898 – but has never been observed again since. The new results confirm that the torpedo ray Torpedo suessii is a separate species within the genus.
“In view of the increasing threat to marine ecosystems and the fish communities living in them due to climate change and pollution, it is crucial to take stock of marine biodiversity in order to protect it. With our genome analyses and the resulting information on species, we want to gain a better understanding of biodiversity on Earth and thus contribute to its conservation,” says Dr Carola Greve, Head of Laboratory at the LOEWE Centre TBG.
For more infos see press release at Senckenberg. (Photo: NHM Vienna)
Learning from bats: ERC Synergy Grant 2023 for Senckenberg genomicist Prof. Michael Hiller
26.10.2023
Diseases due to infections or ageing pose major challenges to humanity worldwide, be it from a medical, health policy, economic or emotional perspective. Interdisciplinary and innovative research approaches are needed to find solutions. In a joint research project, four scientists, including Prof. Dr. Michael Hiller from the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, want to show that nature can serve as a helpful model. Therefore, they are looking at the longevity and disease resistance of bats. The international team received an ERC Synergy Grant of around 12 million euros from the European Research Council for the “BATPROTECT” project, which will run for six years.
Four scientists covering different disciplines – biology, genomics, immunology, and gerontology – now want to shed light on these special characteristics of bats together with their teams. The overarching goal of their project “BATPROTECT” is to achieve a breakthrough in understanding the molecular basis of the extended life expectancy and disease resistance of bats to find new ways to improve human health and disease progression in the future.
For more infos see press release at Senckenberg. (BatProtect team: Michael Hiller, Emma Teeling, Linfa Wang, Bjoern Schumacher (left to right) Photo: B. Schumacher)
Darwin or Kimura – Natural Selection or Pure Chance? New literature review aims to clarify a heated debate between evolutionary biologists
09.10.2023
Some of nature’s mysteries have kept scientists busy for decades – for example, the processes which drive evolution. The question of whether certain differences between and within species are caused by natural selection or by chance processes divides evolutionary biologists even today. An international team of researchers has teased apart a scientific debate concerning the evolutionary theories of Darwin and the Japanese geneticist Kimura. Their conclusion: the debate is unnecessarily convoluted by the co-existence of different interpretations.
Are these two theories in conflict, or can they be reconciled? This is one of the questions that researchers from the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, the universities of Durham and East Anglia and the LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG) discuss in a literature review. The review, published in the journal “Biological Reviews”, lists several aspects of the Neutral Theory that are open to different interpretations.
For more infos see press release at Senckenberg. (Photo: Peter Prokosch, https://www.grida.no/resources/2496)
What’s new at LOEWE-TBG? Find all our videos, news, press releases and selected press articles in our Newsroom. By watching our videos you can, for example, take a look into our lab center and learn more about DNA extraction or get to know TBG’s junior research groups. News include scientific results, prizes, conferences, events, job vacancies and much more. Take a look, stay tuned and follow us on Twitter @LOEWE_TBG.
You need texts or pictures about LOEWE-TBG for publication in media? Our numerous press releases and those of our partners as well as press pictures can also be found at the News Room (via Senckenberg). TBG in TV, Radio and in newspapers – we further compiled a selection of media reports.
Our partners
LOEWE Research Initiatives Network
