Research Group Evolutionary Developmental Biology
The Evolutionary Developmental Biology Group of the Biology Department at Ghent University focuses on evolutionary developmental biology (“evo-devo”) of the vertebrate skeleton and dentition.
With a tradition in morphology and histology, current research includes molecular, histochemical and cytochemical approaches to unravel the basic processes of vertebrate skeletal development.
Naturally, the aim of our research is to relate the features of selected skeletal or dental elements with specific biochemical and molecular events. Finally we attempt to place our findings in an evolutionary perspective.
The lab is specialized in the analysis of bony fish, including widely used model organisms like the zebrafish Danio rerio (Cyprinidae) and various species of cichlids (Cichlidae). Moreover, we also study farmed teleost species such as Atlantic salmon Salmo salar.
Other studies within the group extend to non-mammalian model organisms such as the clawed frog Xenopus. We use up-to-date imaging and analytical techniques. Among those are high resolution light and fluorescence microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, (immuno)histochemistry of cell and matrix components, in vitro organ culture and in situ hybridisation.
The lab has active collaborations and running projects together with leading scientists and institutions in the United States, Canada, Singapore, France, The Netherlands, Portugal and Norway.
Contact information
Ghent University, Biology Department,
Evolutionary Developmental Biology Group
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35
9000 Gent
Belgium
phone: +32 (0)9 264 52 29
fax: +32 (0)9 264 53 44
http://www.evodevo.ugent.be