RED2024-153825-T
EvoDevOmics
Addressing key questions in Evo-Devo through functional genomics
A scientific network that brings together leading Spanish research groups in evolutionary developmental biology, quantitative functional genomics and advanced omics technologies to address some of today’s major questions in Evo-Devo.
Discover the network
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Participating groups
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Activities
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A network to advance Evo-Devo through functional genomics
EvoDevOmics is a thematic network aimed at strengthening Spanish research at the intersection of evolutionary developmental biology —Evo-Devo— and quantitative functional genomics.
The network brings together groups with a strong track record in the study of organismal evolution, developmental programmes, gene regulation, cellular diversity and morphological innovation. Its aim is to create a stable collaborative environment for sharing technologies, resources, model organisms, data and ideas in order to advance key questions in contemporary evolutionary biology.
Through scientific meetings, laboratory exchanges, specialised training and a virtual platform for omics technologies, EvoDevOmics aims to consolidate a connected, competitive and internationally visible scientific community.
EvoDevOmics in numbers
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15
Research groups
15
Institutions
+
30
Model organisms
15
International partners
Project
EvoDevOmics is a collaborative scientific network designed to strengthen research at the intersection of Evolutionary Developmental Biology —Evo-Devo— and quantitative functional genomics. The project brings together leading Spanish research groups working on genome regulation, developmental biology, cell type evolution, evolutionary innovation, non-model organisms and advanced omics technologies.
Through this network, EvoDevOmics aims to create a shared framework for scientific collaboration, technological exchange, training and strategic discussion. Its activities will promote new collaborations, facilitate access to cutting-edge methodologies such as single-cell omics, spatial transcriptomics and long-read sequencing, and support the development of new ideas and hypotheses in Evo-Devo.
By connecting expertise, organisms, technologies and people, EvoDevOmics seeks to address key questions about how biological forms, cell types and developmental programmes evolve, while reinforcing the international visibility and competitiveness of the Spanish Evo-Devo community.
Five major questions to understand the evolution of development
EvoDevOmics’ scientific activity is organised into five interrelated thematic lines. Each addresses fundamental questions about how organisms evolve, how new structures arise, how cell types change and how genomic regulation contributes to biological diversity.
The proposal organises collaborative work into five Scientific Topics: the genomic basis of evolutionary innovations, the origin and evolution of cell types, the evolution of totipotent/pluripotent/germline lineages, the evolution of regulation during development, and the role of duplications, losses and genomic rearrangements.
Line 1
Genomic basis of evolutionary innovations
How do new forms, organs or structures emerge during evolution? This line studies the genetic and developmental changes that have enabled the emergence of innovations such as new brain regions, electric organs, insect wings, shells, specialised limbs or transitions in lifestyles.
Line 2
Origin and evolution of cell types
Cell types are an essential unit for understanding the organisation of multicellular organisms. This line investigates how cell types originate, diversify and transform, and to what extent the similarities observed between species reflect homology, convergence or shared evolutionary trajectories.
Line 3
Evolution of totipotency, pluripotency and the germline
This line addresses the processes that make the beginning of animal life possible: gamete formation, activation of the zygotic genome, germline segregation and epigenetic reprogramming. The aim is to understand which mechanisms are conserved and which represent lineage-specific innovations.
Line 4
Evolution of gene regulation during development
Embryonic development depends on highly coordinated gene regulatory networks. This line studies how regulatory elements evolve, how cell specification programmes are organised and what role the epigenome, repetitive elements and the genome’s regulatory architecture play.
Line 5
Duplications, losses and rearrangements in genome evolution
Gene duplications, whole-genome duplications, gene losses and genomic rearrangements are key forces in evolution. This line analyses how these processes contribute to the emergence of new functions, the diversification of developmental programmes and the evolution of organisms.
