Evolutionary Biology
Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution (Th. Dobzhansky)
Research in Evolutionary Biology
In the Department of Evolutionary Biology, we explore the processes that govern the emergence, persistence, and loss of biological diversity. We use experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches combining expertise in population and statistical genetics, molecular ecology, and functional genomics. We also apply evolutionary principles to fields such as medicine and conservation biology, collaborating with local and international partners.
We are also actively involved in teaching and training at all levels, including the LMU’s Evolution, Ecology and Systematics (EES) Master’s program and to the IMPRS-BI and LSM graduate schools. We are part of Munich’s dynamic Evolutionary Genetics community.
Research Groups
- Evolutionary and Ecological Genetics (Prof. Jochen Wolf)
- Evolutionary Regulatory Genomics (PD Dr. Sonja Grath)
- Statistical Genetics (Prof. Dirk Metzler)
- Behaviour and Speciation (Prof. Richard Merrill)
- Evolutionary and Functional Genomics (Prof. John Parsch)
- Evolution of sexual asymmetry (PD Dr. Bart Nieuwenhuis)
Selected Publications
Merondun J, Fossøy F, Meshcheryagina S, Atkinson P, Bachurin G, Bulyuk V, Fenchuk V, Golovatin M, Hewson C, Honza M, et al. Wolf JBW 2025. Genomic architecture of egg mimicry and its consequences for speciation in parasitic cuckoos. Science 390:527–532.
Glaser-Schmitt A, Lebherz M, Saydam E, Bornberg-Bauer E, Parsch J. (2025) Expression of De Novo Open Reading Frames in Natural Populations of Drosophila melanogaster. J Exp Zool B Mol Dev Evol. jez.b.23297
G. Chomicki, D. Metzler, A. Naikatini, S.S. Renner (2025) Compartmentalization reduces conflict in multi-partner plant–insect symbioses, Science, 389, 151-156.
Richard M. Merrill, (2025) Is beauty beyond the eye of the butterfly? PLoS Biol 23(3): e3003054.
David F. Rivas-Sánchez , Jake Morris , Camilo Salazar, Carolina Pardo-Díaz, Richard M. Merrill, Stephen H. Montgomery (2025) Repeated evolution of reduced visual investment at the onset of ecological speciation in high-altitude Heliconius butterflies. Evolution Letters, 2025, 0(XX), 1–9.
C.Y. Gwee, D. Metzler, J. Fuchs, J.B.W. Wolf (2025) Reconciling Gene Tree Discordance and Biogeography in European Crows. Molecular Ecology, e17764.