Evolution of brain and nervous system development

The project is aimed to develop study developmental processes, patterning genes and neural circuits in a comparative fashion between basal bilaterian and other animal phyla by implementing state-of-the-art molecular and genetic techniques. A strong interest in the laboratory lies in the understanding of the nervous system in the phylum Xenacoelomorpha. Recent advances on the genome and transcriptome in three different Xenacoelomorpha species combined with CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing, allow us to mechanistically study genetic and developmental processes in this phylum. Moreover, the study of the brain connectome with other high- resolution imaging techniques allows direct comparative assessment of the brain architecture and functionality.