GRK 289:  Perspectives of Primatology: Integration of Genetic, Neurobiological and Ethological Research Strategies

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: from 1997 to 2005
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271657

Special emphasis is placed on questions on genetics, neurobiology as well as behavioural and reproductive biology of non-human primates. A combination of these different research areas is indispensable to ask and answer innovative questions. The aim of this Graduiertenkolleg is therefore to both convey the diversity of primatology and to further support the interdisciplinary co-operation among different research areas. These aims are taken into account by a complex teaching programme as well as by the selection of the thesis's projects. An example of this interaction is the inclusion of genetic aspects into the behavioural research. Primatological research with its different aspects on phylogenetics and behavioural biology is unique to gain valuable insight into the evolution of the human kind. Studies oncausal and functional mechanisms of the adaptation of primates to their natural habitat are pivotal to achieve new insights into human evolution. We expect that the results from research conducted within our course will improve significantly our knowledge about primates. These results should also help to better understand the human biology as well as potentially lead to biomedical applications.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Participating Institution: Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH (DPZ); Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung; Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Gerhard Hunsmann
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Eberhard Fuchs; Dr. Michael Heistermann; Professor Dr. Eckhard W. Heymann; Professor Dr. J. Keith Hodges; Professor Dr. Hubertus Jarry; Professor Dr. Uwe Jürgens; Professor Dr. Franz-Josef Kaup; Professor Dr. Eberhard Kruse; Professor Dr. Hartmut Rothe; Dr. Ulrike Sauermann; Professor Dr. Stefan Treue; Professor Dr. Lutz Walter; Professorin Dr. Elke Zimmermann (†); Professor Dr. Hans Zischler