研究概要

RESEARCH

The theory of natural selection and the neutral theory of molecular evolution are powerful concepts in evolutionary biology. However, even with such theories, there still remain unexplained phenomena, one of which is the evolution of complexity. It is difficult to explain the mechanisms needed to evolve complex adaptive traits at cellular and organismal levels, such as cell division machinery, regeneration, and novel organ development. Such traits comprise many components and become adaptive only when all components are gathered together. However, based on evolutionary theory, each component should evolve one by one according to the accumulation of mutations. We aim to reveal the genetic networks regulating the complex traits and to infer the mechanisms needed to evolve complex characters.