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

2025/11
Lavergne, S., Rosa, Z., Peng, C., Monteiro, R., Böhne, A., Marcussen, T., Struck, T.H., Oomen, R.A., Genoscope Sequencing Team, ., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Téodori, E., Demirdjian, L., Wincker, P., Oliveira, P.H., Aury, J., Barrera Enriquez, V.P., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., Brown, T.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Androsacesaussurei Dentant, Lavergne, F. C. Boucher & S. Ibanez, a recently described plant from the rooftops of Europe
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/11
Tomasello, S., Manzo, E., Monteiro, R., Böhne, A., Marcussen, T., Struck, T.H., Oomen, R.A., Genoscope Sequencing Team, ., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Demirdjian, L., N’dar, A., Wincker, P., Oliveira, P.H., Aury, J., Barrera Enriquez, V.P., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., Brown, T.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Xanthiumorientale subsp. italicum (Moretti) Greuter. A plant of American origin, now widespread and, in some cases, invasive in Europe
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/11
Gregorič, M., Bužan, E., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Gut, M., Aguilera, L., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., S. Alioto, T., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of Leviellus thorelli, a common orb-weaving spider representing the Zygiellidae family
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/11
Aguado-Ramsay, P., Lara, F., Draper, I., Conejero, M., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Marcussen, T., H. Struck, T., A. Oomen, R., Genomescope Sequencing Team, ., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Demirdjian, L., Téodori, E., Wincker, P., H. Oliveira, P., Aury, J., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of Lewinskya acuminata, a common epiphytic Mediterranean moss with disjunct populations in California and Ethiopia
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/11
Struck, T.H., Marcussen, T., Böhne, A., Fernández, R., Melo-Ferreira, J., Florent, I., Gissi, C., Guttry, C., Leonard, J.A., McTaggart, S., Mazzoni, C., Monteiro, R., Pettersson, O.V., Pimenta, J., Pohjoismäki, J., Reichel, K., Tarieiev, A., Oomen, R.A.
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An automated decision-making procedure for ranking and selecting species in biodiversity projects
2025/11
Faria, R., Nieto Vilela, R., Lima, F.P., Monteiro, R., Böhne, A., Marcussen, T., Struck, T.H., Oomen, R.A., Gut, M., Aguilera, L., Alioto, T., Câmara Ferreira, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., Cruz, F., Lazar, A., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., Brown, T.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Patella rustica Linnaeus, 1758: a resource to investigate responses to global warming in the intertidal
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/10
Verdes, A., Alvarez-Campos, P., Conejero, M., Riesgo, A., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Palma-Guerrero, J., Fernández, R., Gut, M., Aguilera, L., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., S. Alioto, T., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of the lineid heteronemertean Lineuslacteus (Pilidiophora, Nemertea)
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/10
Aurelle, D., Guillemain, D., Zuberer, F., Malengros, D., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Marcussen, T., Struck, T.H., A. Oomen, R., Genoscope Sequencing Team, ., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Demirdjian, L., Belser, C., Wincker, P., H. Oliveira, P., Aury, J., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of Eunicella cavolini, an IUCN Near Threatened Gorgonian of the Mediterranean Sea
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/10
Hsiung, K., Smith, S.H., Böhne, A.
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ZW and XY sex chromosomes drive rapid and distinctive evolution of sex-biased gene expression
Molecular Ecology
2025/09
Vila, M., Marí-Mena, N., Vila, R., Riesgo, A., García-Souto, D., Lopez-Vaamonde, C., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Marcussen, T., Oomen, R., Struck, T.H., Gut, M., Aguilera, L., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., S. Alioto, T., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE genome of the Spanish moon moth Actias isabellae Graells, 1849: a nocturnal lepidopteran protected by the Habitats Directive
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/09
Vasileiadou, K., Dailianis, T., Skouradakis, G., Vernadou, E., Karakasi, D., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Manousaki, T., Genoscope Sequencing Team, ., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Demirdjian, L., Ndar, A., Wincker, P., H Oliveira, P., Aury, J., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of Holothuria (Platyperona) sanctori: a sea cucumber from the Mediterranean Sea
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/09
Georgakakis, P., Karakasi, D., Lymberakis, P., Papadimitrakis, M., Stratakis, M., Bitzilekis, E., Poulakakis, N., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Genoscope Sequencing Team, ., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Demirdjian, L., Mangenot, S., Belser, C., Wincker, P., Oliveira, P.H., Aury, J., Haggerty, L., Sinha, S., Martin, F., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of Hanak's bat (Pipistrellus hanaki), an IUCN Vulnerable species restricted to forest-like biotopes
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/09
Fernández-Álvarez, F.Á., Bernal-Bajo, A., Escudero, N., Conejero, M., Riesgo, A., Fernández, R., Monteiro, R., Böhne, A., 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 Stigmatoteuthisarcturi Robson, 1948: the jewelled squid
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/09
Chrysostomakis, I., Mozer, A., Bruno Di-Nizo, C., Fischer, D., Sargheini, N., von der Mark, L., Huettel, B., Astrin, J.J., Töpfer, T., Böhne, A.
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A high-quality reference genome for the Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) enables investigations of cell cultures as a genomic resource for endangered species
Gigascience
2025/08
Lopes, R.J., Böhne, A., Marcussen, T., Oomen, R.A., Struck, T.H., Aguilera, L., Gut, M., Câmara Ferreira, F., Cruz, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., Alioto, T.S., Monteiro, R.
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ERGA-BGE reference genome of the Azores Bullfinch - Pyrrhulamurina Godman, 1866: an IUCN Vulnerable Species endemic to a single island in the Azores Archipelago (Portugal)
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/08
Carranza, S., Fernández-Guiberteau, D., Blasón, L., Tulloch, S., Monteiro, R., Böhne, A., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Aguilera, L., Gut, M., Alioto, T.S., Câmara Ferreira, F., Gómez-Garrido, J., Cruz, F., Sinha, S., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., Brown, T.
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ERGA-BGE Genome of the viperine water snake (Natrixmaura): a key species for evolutionary insights of freshwater snakes
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/08
Emerson, B.C., Conejero, M., Riesgo, A., Noguerales, V., Monteiro, R., Böhne, A., Guerrero, J.P., Fernández, R., Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team, ., Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations, ., Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team, ., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., Brown, T.
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ERGA-BGE genome of the ironclad beetle Tarphius canariensis Wollaston, 1862
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/08
Bolanakis, G., Karakasi, D., Bitzilekis, E., Stratakis, M., Trichas, A., Lymberakis, P., Poulakakis, N., Böhne, A., Monteiro, R., Fernández, R., Escudero, N., Genoscope Sequencing Team, ., Moussy, A., Cruaud, C., Labadie, K., Demirdjian, L., Téodori, E., Wincker, P., H. Oliveira, P., Aury, J., Bortoluzzi, C.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Dailognathaquadricollis, an East Mediterranean darkling beetle
Open Research Europe, 5
2025/07
Hausdorf, B., Tapia, E., Monteiro, R., Böhne, A., Marcussen, T., Struck, T., Oomen, R.A., Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team, ., Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations, ., Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team, ., Haggerty, L., Martin, F., Brown, T.
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ERGA-BGE genome of Anisus vorticulus (Troschel, 1834): the Lesser Ramshorn Snail, an endangered freshwater snail protected under the EU's Habitats and Species Directive
Open Research Europe, 5
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 Dendarus foraminosus: an IUCN Least Concern darkling beetle endemic to Crete (Greece)
Open Research Europe, 5
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., 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
2025/05
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
2025/05
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 Gluvia dorsalis: An endemic sun spider from Iberian arid regions
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

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