Our research addresses some key questions in evolutionary biology mainly using genetic and genomic approaches.
This includes understanding the genetic basis for post-reproductive isolation during the speciation process, which we study using the collared flycatcher – pied flycatcher model system of speciation. We have recently sequenced and assembled the genome of both species. It also includes, since many years, general molecular evolutionary studies of how mutation, selection and recombination mould DNA sequence evolution. Another line of research deals with characterizing the genetic bias to important fitness-related traits in bird populations. Here, a key approach involves QTL mapping in zebra finch. Finally, we are interested in, also since long, sex chromosome evolution and sex-biased gene expression.