Further Research Groups

Research in the fledgling bioinformatics group is focused on two topics: computational genomics and speciation. In computational genomics we use modern string algorithms based on suffix trees to compare closely related genomes. [more]

Research interests of the Research Group Meiotic Recombination and Genome Instability revolve around meiotic recombination, the regulation of accurate recombination placement and its impact on genome dynamics. We use single-molecule and small-pool allele-specific PCR approaches to study de-novo recombination in germ cells. We then apply this knowledge to computational approaches to understand how meiotic recombination shapes the genome. [more]

The main topic of the group is to understand the causes and consequences of individual variation. Individual differences have a genetic basis but are also caused by early environmental experiences. The non-genetic influence of the parental phenotype contributes strongly to the early environmental experience, and such transgenerational (epigenetic) effects may even resemble heritable (genetic) effects. Studying individual differences in physiology, development and behaviour, its plasticity and flexibility enables us to understand how individuals, populations and species cope with and adapt to short- and long-term fluctuations and changes in their environment. [more]

John Baines is Professor of Evolutionary Genomics at the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel since April 2009. As part of the Excellence Cluster "Inflammation at Interfaces", he has a dual appointment in both the Medical Faculty of the CAU and at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in nearby Plön. [more]

Although infections are primarily associated with the interaction between a bacterial pathogen and a host cell, the ability of bacteria to interact with other bacteria is key to colonizing a host. We investigate how and why bacteria interact with each other. In particular, we focus on a bacterial secretion system that enables bacteria to kill each other. [more]