(HT) EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

The Genomics Division focuses on the study of the molecular building blocks of life (DNA, RNA and proteins), their role in biological functions, and the ecological and evolutionary processes through which they shape biodiversity.

The Genomics Division covers four main research areas: molecular ecology, molecular biology, aquaculture genomics and developmental biology. 

Besides studying osteological remains, she specialises in the anatomo-clinical analysis of ancient texts and artworks in order to identify the historical presentation and evolution of diseases throughout history. She is also specialises in the field of anatomical education.

Bacteria are found everywhere: in clouds and raindrops, on tree leaves, in soil and oceans, on and in our body. Unlike eukaryotes, bacterial evolution comprises both vertical and horizontal components. Recombination at the species level plays a role in selective sweeps through the population, while inter-species lateral gene transfer (LGT) has important implications to microbial adaptation and evolutionary transformations. In our research we study molecular and genome evolution of microbial genomes.

My research group has two main foci: anthropogenically driven evolution and life history evolution. We study both aspects by investigating the molecular ecology of aquatic invertebrates. In the last years, my colleagues and I have taken advantage of the newly developing  field of museomics. Using genomic information extracted from natural history collections, we can begin to understand how humans have altered microbiomes, populations, species and whole communities. 

For a long time the great part of our scientific activity has taken place in the Arctic and recently in the Antarctic as well. We work there on the basis of polar stations: The Stanisław Siedlecki Polish Polar Station in Hornsund, SW Spitsbergen and The Henryk Arctowski Antarctic Station on King George Island, Admiralty Bay. However, we also camp in other polar regions e.g. in Magdalenefjorden (NW Spitsbergen) or Bear Island.

The wide sphere of our studies includes:

Located in Ifremer (Centre de Brest) and Institut Unversitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM/UBO), the lab has expertise and skills dedicated to the microbiology of deep sea extreme environments. Its research topics include the study of ecosystems including the preparation and organization of work at sea, the description of the phylogenetic and functional microbial diversity, and understanding of adaptative processes at the cellular and molecular level.