SGS: Henrik Kaessmann - The origins and evolution of amniote sex chromosomes

Max Planck Special Guest Lecture Series

Date: Feb 22, 2024
Time: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Speaker: Henrik Kaessmann
Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Location: MPI-IE
Room: Main Lecture Hall
Host: Nicola Iovino

SGS: Henrik Kaessmann - The origins and evolution of amniote sex chromosomes

Amniotes exhibit a diverse range of sex chromosome systems. Mammals typically employ the XX/XY system, while birds utilize the ZZ/ZW system. Reptiles present an array of systems, such as XX/XY, ZZ/ZW, and even temperature-dependent sex determination methods. The evolution of these sex chromosomes significantly differs across various amniote species. Professor Kaessmann from Heidelberg will be a featured speaker at the Max Planck Special Guest Seminar. In his talk titled "The Origins and Evolution of Amniote Sex Chromosomes," he will delve into the latest research findings on this intriguing subject.

The Kaessmann lab focuses on mammalian and vertebrate organ origins and evolution, exploring genomic and molecular changes. Their research includes analyzing extensive genomics datasets, like RNA-seq, from a vast organ collection. This has led to discoveries about the evolution of protein-coding genes, alternative splicing, long noncoding RNAs, microRNAs, and sex chromosomes, and their phenotypic effects across species. Recently, they've employed single-cell genomics and bioinformatics to study individual cells. Current major projects examine vertebrate brain evolution, including tissues and cells from various vertebrates, from sea lampreys to humans. Additional studies are underway on the evolution and development of gonads, liver, intestine, and the placenta in mammals.