About the project

Changes in the genetic composition of species over time (i.e., evolution) is the fundamental process that has resulted in all the fascinating adaptations and life forms poopulating our planet.

A spectacular type of genetic change, genome duplication, can occur due to errors during cell division, leading to organisms with a double set of genetic material. This can increase the long-term potential for developing biological innovations and new life forms, as nature can "test" new genetic solutions while maintaining a genetic "backup." However, having a double set of genetic material also increases the chances of errors in cellular functions, a challenge that must be addressed to survive and thrive.

Exciting new research now suggests that organisms with a recently duplicated genome undergo changes in the three-dimensional organization of DNA molecules in the cell nucleus, potentially serving as a key mechanism for adapting to life with a double genome.

In the ThreeD project, we aim to explore this hypothesis by reconstructing changes in the three-dimensional organization of DNA, as well as gene regulation, across 100 million years of evolution after the ancestor of all salmonids underwent a whole-genome duplication.

Participants

NMBU participants

External participants

Joan Paulsen, UiO
Juan Tena, CABD - Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo