The Senckenberg series of lectures starts on 17 March and they will provide insights into the research being conducted by LOEWE TBG on nine evenings. Prof. Dr Axel Janke is opening the series with his virtual lecture entitled “Genomic variation as the foundation for biodiversity – an introduction to the LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics”. Biological diversity is the result of evolution, which has been continuing for 3.5 billion years, and it is one of the most complex phenomena on earth. The LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), which is being supported by the Hesse Ministry of Economics, has set itself the task of conducting research into the genetic foundation for biological diversity in order to make it accessible for both pure and applied research. So far, the LOEWE TBG has been able to generate more than 2,000 genomes – ranging from a roundworm to a blue whale – and they are then analysed using high-performance computers.

This makes it possible to sequence and investigate the genomic variants across the tree of life in order to better understand the origin and the adaptations in the diversity of genes up to and including ecosystems and make them useful in the long term.

The biologist, Axel Janke, is the spokesperson for the TBG LOEWE Centre and has been working on the reconstruction and redefinition of family trees for numerous species for a long time. By linking evolutionary data with climatic, geological and biographical developments in the earth’s history, he is expecting completely new discoveries and a fresh understanding of the complex processes of genome evolution.

The lectures will be given in German. They start at 7:15 p.m. and it is possible to participate in the following ways:

Taking part in the Zoom meeting: discussions are possible using the chat function – please register at https://www.senckenberg.de/de/anmeldung-vortrag-17-2/ by 6 p.m. on 17 March at the very latest; the login details will then be sent to you shortly before the event.

By live stream at www.senckenberg.de/live: no chat function is available. It is not necessary to register for this.

By live stream via the Senckenberg YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/SenckenbergWorld If you log in using you own YouTube or Google account, you can make comments and ask questions using the chat function.