Hologenomics
Unveiling the interconnectedness of organisms across space and time
Why are organisms where they are, and why do they do what they do? We are a new research group based at the University of Melbourne. Our work applies an ecological and evolutionary perspective to investigate how the presence and behaviour of an organism is influenced by the multitude of other creatures living within and around it.
Why are organisms where they are, and why do they do what they do? We are a new research group based at the University of Melbourne. Our work applies an ecological and evolutionary perspective to investigate how the presence and behaviour of an organism is influenced by the multitude of other creatures living within and around it.
Research Areas
Nutritional interactions in microbiomes
Using metabolic modelling to unveil microbial food-webs
Host-microbe interactions in evolution
From diversity of symbionts to trait evolution
Microbiome Selection and Engineering
Combining bioinformatics and experiments to guide microbiome manipulation
Why hologenomics?
Why hologenomics?
holo– from Greek holos, meaning "whole, entire, complete"
holo– from Greek holos, meaning "whole, entire, complete"
The ‘holobiont’ term was popularised by Lynn Margulis and usually refers to a host and the assemblage of organisms living on or within it. The host and microbial genomes of a holobiont are collectively known as a hologenome. Hologenomics therefore refers to studying genomes of entire holobionts, especially the emergent properties that would not be measurable when studied in isolation.
The ‘holobiont’ term was popularised by Lynn Margulis and usually refers to a host and the assemblage of organisms living on or within it. The host and microbial genomes of a holobiont are collectively known as a hologenome. Hologenomics therefore refers to studying genomes of entire holobionts, especially the emergent properties that would not be measurable when studied in isolation.