Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates - Bonn

Our task

The comparative analysis of genomes and transcriptomes is establishing itself as an elementary component of biodiversity research. New sequencing technologies as well as developments in analysis methods and algorithms enable us to analyze samples from collections and the environment, especially from non-model organisms, as well as entire populations.

The Comparative Genomics Section at the zmb analyzes biodiversity in an evolutionary context in an attempt to better understand phenotypic and genomic changes within vertebrates.

Linking genotype and phenotype

Dr. Astrid Böhne represents this section with outstanding expertise in the areas of de novo sequencing and assembly as well as comparative genome-wide analyses.
The focus of this section is on the genomic architecture of phenotypic novelties and adaptive traits as well as speciation processes.

Projects in the Comparative Genomics Section deal in detail with population dynamics, speciation, gene flow, hybridization, adaptation and conflicts between the sexes, especially in fish.

Biodiversity

We are interested in the origin, interaction and distribution of new species and focus in particular on extremely successful animal groups that are part of speciation hotspots and (adaptive) radiations but also invasive and hybridizing species to understand drivers and threats of biodiversity genomically.

Genome research at the zmb collaborates intensively with scientists from the sections Bioinformatic Genomics and Phylogenomics.

Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne

Head of Section

Phone: +49 228 9122 365
E-Mail: a.boehne@leibniz-lib.de

Projects

All projects

SynSex - Sexual selection and conflict in Syngnathidae
Management: Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne
BIGFOOT - BIodiversity decline's Genomic FOOTprint
Management: Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne
ColLomic
Management: Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne
ERGA - The European Reference Genome Atlas
Management: Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne
BGE - Biodiversity Genomics Europe
Management: Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne
Sex chromosomes in cichlids
Management: Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne

Publications

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2025

2025/06
Reichel, K., Pohjoismäki, J., Astrin, J., Böhne, A., Bortoluzzi, C., Campo, J.d., Ciofi, C., Di-Nizo, C.B., Divakar, P.K., Greve, C., Hampl, V., Hilgers, L., Laine, V.N., Leonard, J.A., Lozano-Fernandez, J., Bilela, L.L., Mazzoni, C., McCartney, A., Melo-Ferreira, J., Monteiro, R., Oomen, R.A., Pavlek, M., Pimenta, J., Rindos, M., Seehausen, O., Tarieiev, A., Tomasello, S., Pettersson, O.V., Waterhouse, R.M., Weber, A.A.-T., Zinenko, O., Guttry, C.d.
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Addressing key challenges in sample handling for high-quality reference genome generation
2025/06
Blumer, L.M., Burskaia, V., Artiushin, I., Saha, J., Garcia, J.C., Jiménez, F.C., Hooft van der Huysdynen, A., Elkin, J., Fischer, B., Van Houtte, N., Zhou, C., Gresham, S., Malinsky, M., Linderoth, T., Sawasawa, W., Vernaz, G., Bista, I., Hickey, A., Kucka, M., Louzada, S., Zatha, R., Yang, F., Rusuwa, B., Santos, M.E., Chan, Y.F., Joyce, D.A., Böhne, A., Miska, E.A., Ngochera, M., Turner, G.F., Durbin, R., Svardal, H.
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Introgression dynamics of sex-linked chromosomal inversions shape the Malawi cichlid radiation
Science, 6752, 388
2025/06
Reichel, K., Pohjoismäki, J., Astrin, J., Böhne, A., Bortoluzzi, C., Buzan, E., Campo, J.d., Ciofi, C., Di-Nizo, C.B., Divakar, P.K., Greve, C., Hampl, V., Hilgers, L., Laine, V.N., Leonard, J.A., Lozano-Fernandez, J., Bilela, L.L., Mazzoni, C., McCartney, A., Melo-Ferreira, J., Monteiro, R., Oomen, R.A., Pavlek, M., Pimenta, J., Rindos, M., Seehausen, O., Tarieiev, A., Tomasello, S., Pettersson, O.V., Waterhouse, R.M., Weber, A.A.-T., Zinenko, O., Guttry, C.d.
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Addressing key challenges in sample handling for high-quality reference genome generation
2025/06
Bolanakis, G., Karakasi, D., Trichas, A., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Bitzilekis, E., Stratakis, M., Lymberakis, P., Poulakakis, N., Genoscope Sequencing Team, ., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Demirdjian, L., Duprat, S., Téodori, E., Wincker, P., H. Oliveira, P., Aury, J., Haggerty, L., Sinha, S., Martin, F., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Dendarusforaminosus: an IUCN Least Concern darkling beetle endemic to Crete (Greece)
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/05
Jeffries, D., Benvenuto, C., Böhne, A., Fraisse, C., Garcia, S., Jay, P., Kratochvíl, L., McDonough-Goldstein, C.E., Ruiz-Herrera, A., Sotero-Caio, C.G., Valenzuela, N., Wilson, M.A., Tree of Sex Consortium, ., Jaron, K.S.
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The Tree of Sex consortium: A global initiative for studying the evolution of reproduction in eukaryotes
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
2025/05
Lozano-Fernandez, J., Domènech, M., Ibos, A., Marcussen, T., Struck, T.H., Oomen, R., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Aguilera, L., Gut, M., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., Alioto, T.S., Haggerty, L., Sinha, S., Martin, F., De Panis, D.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of Gluviadorsalis: An endemic sun spider from Iberian arid regions
2025/05
Letsch, H., Greve, C., Hundsdoerfer, A.K., Irisarri, I., Moore, J.M., Espeland, M., Wanke, S., Arifin, U., Blom, M.P.K., Corrales, C., Donath, A., Fritz, U., Köhler, G., Kück, P., Lemer, S., Mengual, X., Salas, N.M., Meusemann, K., Palandačić, A., Printzen, C., Sigwart, J.D., Silva-Brandão, K.L., Simões, M., Stange, M., Suh, A., Szucsich, N., Tilic, E., Töpfer, T., Böhne, A., Janke, A., Pauls, S.
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Type genomics: a Framework for integrating Genomic Data into Biodiversity and Taxonomic research
Systematic Biology
2025/04
Carranza, S., Fernández-Guiberteau, D., Blasón, L., Palma-Guerrero, J., Fernández, R., Monteiro, R., Böhne, A., Aguilera, L., Gut, M., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., Alioto, T., Haggerty, L., Sinha, S., Martin, F., De Panis, D.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of the Western Montpellier Snake (Malpolonmonspessulanus), a key species for evolutionary and venom studies
2025/04
Buzan, E., Bončina, A., Pokorny, B., Escudero, N., Fernández, R., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Aguilera, L., Gut, M., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., Alioto, T., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., De Panis, D.
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ERGA-BGE Reference Genome of the Northern chamois (Rupicaprarupicapra): Europe’s most abundant mountain ungulate
2025/04
Janžekovič, F., Buzan, E., Bončina, A., Escudero, N., Fernández, R., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Aguilera, L., Gut, M., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., Alioto, T., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., De Panis, D.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of the Striped Field Mouse (Apodemusagrarius), a widespread and abundant species in Central and Eastern Europe
2025/04
Vasileiadou, K., Manousaki, T., Dailianis, T., Skouradakis, G., Vernadou, E., Karakasi, D., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Team, G.S., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Demirdjian, L., Istace, B., Couloux, A., Wincker, P., Oliveira, P.H., Aury, J., Haggerty, L., Sinha, S., Martin, F., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Pinctadaradiata (Leach, 1814): one of the first Lessepsian migrants
2025/04
Vasileiadou, K., Manousaki, T., Dailianis, T., Skouradakis, G., Vernadou, E., Karakasi, D., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Team, G.S., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Demirdjian, L., Téodori, E., Duprat, S., Wincker, P., Oliveira, P.H., Aury, J., Haggerty, L., Sinha, S., Martin, F., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Noah`s Ark shell (Arcanoae Linnaeus, 1758), a Mediterranean bivalve species
2025/04
Pellicer, J., Garnatje, T., Vitales, D., Hidalgo, O., Vallès, J., García-Fernández, A., Santos-Guerra, A., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Samples and Laboratory Team, W.S.I.T.o.L.M., Sequencing Operations, W.S.I.S.O., Tree of Life Core Informatics Team, W.S.I., Thomas, A., Jackson, B., Wood, J.M., Howe, K., Blaxter, M., McCarthy, S., Haggerty, L., Sinha, S., Martin, F., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Cheirolophustagananensis: an IUCN endangered shrub endemic to the Canary Islands
2025/04
Decher, J., Schlitter, D., Adu-Tutu, P., Gazzard, A.
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Baers’s Wood Mouse - Hylomyscus baeri
2025/04
Ahissa, L., Decher, J., Gazzard, A.
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Wimmer’s Shrew - Crocidura wimmeri
2025/04
De Keyzer, E.L.R., Herder, F., Böhne, A., Campuzano Jiménez, F., Burskaia, V., Kukowka, S., Tracey, A., Denton, A., Oatley, G., Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme, ., Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective, ., Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, ., Mokodongan, D.F., Wowor, D., Svardal, H.
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Multiple instances of river-lake introgression in the adaptive radiation of sailfin silversides in Wallace’s Dreampond
2025/04
Čelik, T., Lokovšek, T., Bužan, E., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Gut, M., Aguilera, L., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., Alioto, T.S., Haggerty, L., Sinha, S., Martin, F., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Coenonymphaoedippus: an IUCN endangered European butterfly species occurring in two ecotypes
2025/04
Schlebusch, S.A., Trifonov, V., Halenková, Z., Klianitskaya, M., Dedukh, D., Ruiz Herrera, A., Álvarez González, L., Pujol Infantes, G., Hřibová, E., Andjel, L., Bartoš, O., Pajer, P., Tichopád, T., Kulik, D., Kotusz, J., Kaštánková Doležálková, M., Böhne, A., Marta, A., Horna, P., Reifová, R., Guiguen, Y., Pačes, J., Janko, K.
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Sex chromosome turnover and structural interspecific genome divergence shapes meiotic outcomes in hybridizing Cobitis
2025/03
Möhring, J., Hüllen, S., Martin, S., Mokodongan, D.F., Wowor, D., Schwarzer, J., Herder, F.
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Increased phenotypic diversity as a consequence of ecological opportunity in the island radiation of Sulawesi ricefishes (Teleostei: Adrianichthyidae)
BMC Ecology and Evolution, 1, 25
2025/03
Lymberakis, P., Karakasi, D., Papadimitrakis, M., Monteiro, R., Böhne, A., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Aury, J., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Mangenot, S., Belser, C., Demirdjian, L., Sinha, S., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., Wincker, P., Oliveira, P.H., Brown, T.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Acomysminous (Bate, 1906): the Crete spiny mouse, endemic to the island of Crete, Greece
2025/03
Ventura, M., Franch, N., Fernández, R., Palma-Guerrero, J., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Aguilera, L., Gut, M., Alioto, T.S., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., Brown, T.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Valenciahispanica (Valenciennes, 1826): a critically endangered Iberian toothcarp
2025/02
Wantania, L.L., Koppetsch, T., Möhring, J., Miesen, F.W., Wowor, D., Boneka, F., Herder, F.
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Sulawesi stream fish communities depend on connectivity and habitat diversity
Journal of Fish Biology, 106
2025/02
López, H., Oromí, P., Belles, X., Ylla, G., Escudero, N., Fernández, R., Böhne, A., Gut, M., Aguilera, L., Alioto, T., Ferreira, F.C., Gómez-Garrido, J., Cruz, F., Monteiro, R.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of Lobopterasubterranea: a cave adapted cockroach endemic to the Canary Islands
2025/02
Bein, B., Chrysostomakis, I., Arantes, L.S., Brown, T., Gerheim, C., Schell, T., Schneider, C., Leushkin, E., Chen, Z., Sigwart, J., Gonzalez, V., Wong, N.L.W.S., Santos, F.R., Blom, M.P.K., Mayer, F., Mazzoni, C.J., Böhne, A., Winkler, S., Greve, C., Hiller, M.
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Long-read sequencing and genome assembly of natural history collection samples and challenging specimens
Genome Biology, 1, 26
2025/02
Smith, S.H., Kukowka, S., Böhne, A.
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Investigation of sex determination in African cichlids reveals lack of fixed sex chromosomes in wild populations
Journal of Evolutionary Biology

Employees

All employees

MSc Aryadevi Anitha Shaji
zmb Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates Doctoral candidate
Phone: +49 228 9122 407
E-mail: a.shaji@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne
zmb Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 365
E-mail: a.boehne@leibniz-lib.de
MSc Nina Casillas
zmb Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates Doctoral candidate
Phone: +49 228 9122 379
E-mail: n.casillas@leibniz-lib.de
MSc Ioannis Chrysostomakis
zmb Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates Doctoral candidate
Phone: +49 228 9122 369
E-mail: i.chrysostomakis@leibniz-lib.de
MSc Kevin Hsiung
zmb Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates Doctoral candidate
Phone: +49 228 9122 369
E-mail: k.hsiung@leibniz-lib.de
Sandra Kukowka
zmb Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates
Phone: +49 228 9122 343
E-mail: s.kukowka@leibniz-lib.de
Jan Möhring
ztm zmb Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates Ichthyology Bonn Doctoral candidate
Phone: +49 228 9122 431
E-mail: j.moehring@leibniz-lib.de
MSc Sophie Smith
zmb Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates Doctoral candidate
Phone: +49 228 9122 369
E-mail: s.smith@leibniz-lib.de
Rita Mafalda Soares Monteiro
zmb Comparative Genomics - Vertebrates Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 369
E-mail: r.monteiro@leibniz-lib.de