Coordination Funds

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Erich Bornberg-Bauer
• Subject Area: Evolution, Anthropology ; General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology ; Bioinformatics and Theoretical Biology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 503283318

New experimental and computational techniques provide exciting opportunities to study the evolutionary history of genomes and to reconstruct the emergence of new traits from an integrated, phylogenomic perspective, far beyond the limited perspective of model species. GEvol takes advantage of these opportunities by connecting researchers from complementary fields, including genomics, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, evolutionary ecology, molecular evolution, developmental genetics, taxonomy and genetics to unravel the dynamics and principles of genomic innovations of a large clade. Proposals funded in the first funding period covered a broad spectrum of respective subjects us ing diverse state-of-the-art computational and experimental techniques. We had chosen to focus on insects because of their species richness, phenotpyic diversity, and because insects and their genomes are highly amenable to both experimental and computational studies. Projects used multiple OMICS approaches, mainly in tandem projects, combining data analysis, simulations and modelling with functional studies using, e.g., RNA sequencing in combination with bisulfite sequencing, ATACseq, Cut and Tag or RNAi. The umbrella structure of GEvol provided annual meetings, technical and soft-skill related workshops, training courses for young researchers, joint meetings and regular meetings of seven focus groups via videocall comprising genome assembly and annotation, sequencing, simulations and modelling, epigenetics and regulation, novel genes and elements, gene function and transposable elements, and outreach activities. Training courses were and will be provided on linux, python, R, scientific writing, genome analyses gene expression, gene function, data analysis and self presentation for female scientists. Most activities were well attended and received and shall be continued along the same lines in the second funding period. We plan to add courses on principles and application of Machine Learning techniques and orthology. Most PhD students have advisory commitees with a second advisor/mentor from a different GEvol group. TAC meetings have been held, wherever possible alongside the annual meetings or smaller meetings to minimise travel times and project disruptions. Gender balance has been largely accomplished (currently ≥ 42% female Gevol members, ≥ 38% female PIs and ≥ 55% female PhD students ) and will be maintained by active recruitment, invitations to submit applications and for invited speakers at conferences and workshops. Gevol has been and will continue to be represented with individual talks at national and international conferences and dedicated GEvol sessions, some including invited keynote speakers. So far, GEvol members have published 28 publications. 11 of these were co-authored by more than one GEvol PI or student, 7 by more than 2 partners other than from the tandem project.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2349: Genomic Basis of Evolutionary Innovations (GEvol)