Our view of species - evolutionary geneticist Jody Hey in Oldenburg

Edward O. Wilson, the outstanding American evolutionary biologist and "father of sociobiology", is the subject of an annual lecture series on biodiversity, which will continue on Wednesday 29 May at 6 p.m. at the University of Oldenburg (Wechloy campus, lecture theatre W3 1-161).

Prof Dr Jody Hey, Professor of Evolutionary Genetics at Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA), will give the lecture in English. The title: "How Genomics Is Changing Our View Of Species And What That Means For The Study And Conservation Of Biodiversity".

"Jody Hey is recognised worldwide for his profound and clear-sighted research on the evolution of species. It sets new standards for biodiversity research," explains Prof Dr Olaf Bininda-Emonds, Professor of Molecular Systematics and Scientific Director of the lecture series.

If you examine the genetic material of species, you realise that they have evolved through natural selection on the one hand and through gene exchange with related species on the other. However, the view of species and their categorisation differs depending on which genes are analysed in more detail: For example, the latest findings in genomics are fundamentally challenging our traditional view of species. Hey outlines these developments in his lecture and talks about their significance for current biodiversity research.