Department of Molecular Ecology
The overarching objective of the research in the department is to manipulate ecological interactions in nature to identify traits that are demonstrably important for an organism’s Darwinian fitness in the complexity of interactions that occur in nature. We focus on plant-mediated interactions and have developed ecological expression systems with two native plants that have a rich suite of ecological interactions, Wild Tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata) and Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum), as well as the herbivores that feed on them, the fungi and bacteria that interact with their roots, and their floral visitors. We have developed molecular (transformation systems, VIGs silencing, cDNA and genomic libraries, cDNA and oligo microarrays, real time RT-PCR, microsatellites, SAGE, SSH, DD-RTPCR display ), analytical (high throughput HPLC and UPLC--MS (DAD, ion trap, TOF, triple Quad), GC-MS (quad,ion trap) and GCxGC-TOF, z-Nose) and ecological (field stations in Utah, Arizona and Jena, insect cultures, and natural history expertise) tools to rigorously manipulate the genetic basis for ecological sophistication in these two plant systems.
Interview: Latest Thinking with Prof. Ian Thomas Baldwin
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Video Talks
Baldwin I.T. (2018). How Do Plant Genomes Develop Different Phenotypes Depending on Their Environment? Video talk on Latest Thinking (Open Access Journal), doi:10.21036/LTPUB10582
Baldwin, I.T. (2017): On becoming (and remaining) a plant scientist in the genomics era .Video Talk on New Phytologist.
Baldwin I.T. (2016). What New Insights into Plants‘ Defense Mechanisms Can Be Gained By Studying Their Interactions with Their Habitat? Video talk on Latest Thinking, doi:10.21036/LTPUB10201 (Interview above)
Baldwin, I.T. (2016). Studying a Plant’s Ecological Interactions in the Genomics Era: The Story of Nicotiana attenuata. Video Talk on iBiology.
- Part 1: A Short Biased History of an Interdisciplinary Field
- Part 2: Nicotina attenuata’s Responses to Attack from a Nicotine-tolerant Herbivore
- Part 3: Plant’s Perspective on Seeds, Sex, and Microbes
Baldwin, I.T. (2016). Making Scientific Writing Painless. Video Talk on iBiology.
Acting Director: Dr. Sarah E. O'Connor
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Department Assistant: Evelyn Claußen
+49 (0) 3641 57 1101
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