Contributions to MaxPlanckResearch
The magazine MaxPlanckResearch is a publictaion of the central press and public relation office of the Max Planck Society. It gives 4 times year an exciting overview in the world of science at the over 80 Max Planck Instituts in a comprehensible form.
Homesickness, which lies in the genes
Dr. Miriam Liedvogel (2022)
This autumn, millions of birds in the northern hemisphere will once again leave for their winter quarters. Miriam Liedvogel will keep her fingers crossed that some of them will return safely next spring. The scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön has given them some luggage: so-called geolocators. The tiny sensors are supposed to tell her where the birds were during the winter. (Artikel in german)
This autumn, millions of birds in the northern hemisphere will once again leave for their winter quarters. Miriam Liedvogel will keep her fingers crossed that some of them will return safely next spring. The scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön has given them some luggage: so-called geolocators. The tiny sensors are supposed to tell her where the birds were during the winter. (Artikel in german)
Birth of Collectives
Paul Rainey (2021)
Cheaters can leave. In the case of the bacteria in Paul Rainey’s lab, that’s exactly what is wanted. In his laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Ploen, the evolutionary biologist studies how multicellular life emerges from individual cells. Their findings show that too much cohesion can be counterproductive.
Cheaters can leave. In the case of the bacteria in Paul Rainey’s lab, that’s exactly what is wanted. In his laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Ploen, the evolutionary biologist studies how multicellular life emerges from individual cells. Their findings show that too much cohesion can be counterproductive.
Immunity – a balance between attack and defense
Dr. Tobias Lenz (2020)
Everything has its price – especially health, of course. At the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Ploen, Tobias Lenz and his team are researching what the evolutionary costs of perfect immunity might be and why we are not immune to all pathogens.
Everything has its price – especially health, of course. At the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Ploen, Tobias Lenz and his team are researching what the evolutionary costs of perfect immunity might be and why we are not immune to all pathogens.
A Stickleback Full of Worms
Martin Kalbe (2018)
Around 40 percent of all species on Earth are parasitic – apparently a highly successful way of life. Even a fish such as the three-spined stickleback is plagued by up to 25 different parasites. One of them particularly appealed to Martin Kalbe, Tina Henrich and Nina Hafer from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön: the tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus. The scientists are researching the numerous tricks that host and parasite use to outdo each other.
Around 40 percent of all species on Earth are parasitic – apparently a highly successful way of life. Even a fish such as the three-spined stickleback is plagued by up to 25 different parasites. One of them particularly appealed to Martin Kalbe, Tina Henrich and Nina Hafer from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön: the tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus. The scientists are researching the numerous tricks that host and parasite use to outdo each other.
Mice Are Here to Stay
Diethard Tautz (2018)
Wherever people live, there are mice. It would be difficult to find another animal that has adapted to the habitats created by humans as well as the house mouse has. It thus seemed obvious to Diethard Tautz at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön that the species would make an ideal model system for investigating how evolution works.
Wherever people live, there are mice. It would be difficult to find another animal that has adapted to the habitats created by humans as well as the house mouse has. It thus seemed obvious to Diethard Tautz at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön that the species would make an ideal model system for investigating how evolution works.
Sculpin Liaisons
Arne Nolte (2013)
The sculpins of Arne Nolte, head of a research group at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, near Kiel, are no beauties; yet these unprepossessing fish, first discovered in the Lower Rhine in the 1990s, hold a special fascination for him. After all, these particular sculpins are hybrids, the shared offspring of two species.
The sculpins of Arne Nolte, head of a research group at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, near Kiel, are no beauties; yet these unprepossessing fish, first discovered in the Lower Rhine in the 1990s, hold a special fascination for him. After all, these particular sculpins are hybrids, the shared offspring of two species.
Cultural War over Genetic Engineering
Diethard Tautz (2012)
The debate surrounding the dangers posed by genetically modified organisms is becoming emotional and increasingly removed from the scientific context – particularly when it comes to the use of these organisms in agriculture. The radical rejection is obstructing its development and leading to problems that its opponents had actually hoped to prevent. In our author’s view, it is therefore time to start the debate anew.
The debate surrounding the dangers posed by genetically modified organisms is becoming emotional and increasingly removed from the scientific context – particularly when it comes to the use of these organisms in agriculture. The radical rejection is obstructing its development and leading to problems that its opponents had actually hoped to prevent. In our author’s view, it is therefore time to start the debate anew.
Ideas for a Diversity Inventory
Diethard Tautz (2009)
Biodiversity is relevant to nutrition, natural products, medicine and ecological stability, but also to cultural and aesthetic experience. For centuries, human activity has been reducing biological diversity at an ever-increasing pace. The United Nations declared 2010 the “International Year of Biodiversity.” However, many questions in the field of biodiversity research remain unanswered – also due to a lack of focus and integration of new research approaches.
Biodiversity is relevant to nutrition, natural products, medicine and ecological stability, but also to cultural and aesthetic experience. For centuries, human activity has been reducing biological diversity at an ever-increasing pace. The United Nations declared 2010 the “International Year of Biodiversity.” However, many questions in the field of biodiversity research remain unanswered – also due to a lack of focus and integration of new research approaches.
Egoism May Facilitate Cooperation
Dr. Manfred Milinski (2008)
Donating money for the victims of an earthquake or famine does not pay off for the benefactor – a chimpanzee might think, and thus not do it. But that is not true, as scientists working with MANFRED MILINSKI at the MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY in Plön have found. It seems that a good reputation always creates advantages.
Donating money for the victims of an earthquake or famine does not pay off for the benefactor – a chimpanzee might think, and thus not do it. But that is not true, as scientists working with MANFRED MILINSKI at the MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY in Plön have found. It seems that a good reputation always creates advantages.