Bioinformatics, Phylogeny and Evolutionary Genomics Group

Members

Our group focuses on two main axes: phylogenomics (i.e. the inference of evolutionary history based on genomics data) and evolutionary genomics (understanding the molecular and population processes that drive genome evolution). We see genomes both as a subject of research (how do genomes evolve, why are they structured the way they are?), but also as a main source of empirical knowledge about the macroevolutionary patterns (what do they tell us about the history of life on Earth?), or about the phenotypes and life-history strategies of organisms. Our works heavily rely on methodological developments (bioinformatics, modeling and statistical inference).

Evolution of genome architecture and expression

Genomes are the result of a long-term evolutionary process, shaped by multiple evolutionary forces. Some genomic features are adaptive (i.e. are beneficial for the fitness of organisms), others result from non-adaptive processes (random drift and biased gene conversion - BGC) or are caused by conflicts between multiple levels of selection (e.g. meiotic drive or the spread of selfish genetic elements). We explore different aspects of genome architecture (base composition landscapes, genome structure and size, impact of transposable elements, …) or functioning (gene expression, lncRNAs, epigenetic landscapes, …), and try to disentangle the relative contribution of adaptive and non-adaptive processes to their evolution. For this purpose, we consider both the molecular mechanisms (mutation, repair, recombination) and the population processes (selection, drift, BGC, …) that shape genetic variation.

Phylogenomics

We are interested in reconstructing the history of life on Earth. This research unfolds along several axes. First, we develop phylogenomic databases of aligned genetic sequences (e.g. BIBI, RiboDB or HOGENOM). Second, we conduct methodological research on how to accurately reconstruct deep phylogenies, infer divergence times, reconstruct ancestral genetic sequences, gene repertoires and life-history traits. This methodological work is translated into publicly available software programs (e.g. SeaView, PhyloBayes, Coevol). Finally, we apply these approaches to several important problems, among which: reconstructing the phylogeny of animals, of archaea, or the global tree of life; using phylogenies and ancestral gene repertoires to investigate the evolution of complex systems and the emergence of molecular and cellular functions in the three domains of life; reconstructing ancestral genetic sequences, a research activity that has industrial and biotechnological applications.

Teaching and outreach

We teach at University Lyon 1 (Master Bioinfo@Lyon), INSA, ENS Lyon, we organize bioinformatics internships. We regularly give conferences on evolution (tree of life, human evolution, genetic diversity, …).
Prospective students and postdocs are invited to apply, as we often welcome visitors for internships or research projects.
 
Keywords: Molecular evolution and Population Genomics; Phylogenomics; Computational Genomics; Comparative genomics; Bioinformatics; Statistical inference.

Publications

Display of 721 to 750 publications on 1095 in total

Identification and characterization of human Mex-3 proteins, a novel family of evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding proteins differentially localized to processing bodies.

Karine Buchet-Poyau, Julien Courchet, Hervé Le Hir, Bertrand Séraphin, Jean-Yves Scoazec, L. Duret...

Nucleic Acids Research . 35 ( 4 ) : 1289-300

DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkm016

Journal article

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Investigating the effects of prehistoric migrations in Siberia: genetic variation and the origins of Yakuts

Brigitte Pakendorf, Innokentij Novgorodov, Vladimir Osakovskij, Al’bina Danilova, Artur Protod’jakonov, Mark Stoneking

Human Genetics . 120 ( 3 ) : 334-353

DOI: 10.1007/s00439-006-0213-2

Journal article

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Melanesian and Asian origins of Polynesians: mtDNA and Y chromosome gradients across the Pacific

M. Kayser, S. Brauer, R. Cordaux, A. Casto, O. Lao, L.A. Zhivotovsky...

Molecular Biology and Evolution . 23 : 2234-2244

Journal article

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Global trends of whole genome duplications revealed by the genome sequence of the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia

Jean-Marc Aury, Olivier Jaillon, * Laurent Duret, Benjamin Noel, Claire Jubin, Betina M. Porcel...

Nature . 444 ( 7116 ) : 171-178

DOI: 10.1038/nature05230

Journal article

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GC Content Evolution of the Human and Mouse Genomes : Insights from the Study of Processed Pseudogenes in Regions of Different Recombination Rates.

A. Khelifi, J. Meunier, L. Duret, Dominique Mouchiroud

Journal of Molecular Evolution . 62 : 745-752

Journal article

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Insights into social insects from the genome of the honeybee Apis mellifera

G.M. Weinstock, G.E. Robinson, R.A. Gibbs, K.C. Worley, J.D. Evans, R. Maleszka...

Nature . 443 : 931-949

Journal article

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Origin and molecular evolution of receptor tyrosine kinases with immunoglobulin-like domains.

Julien Grassot, Manolo Gouy, Guy Perrière, Guy Mouchiroud

Molecular Biology and Evolution . 23 ( 6 ) : 1232-41

DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msk007

Journal article

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Phylogeography of a subterranean amphipod reveals cryptic diversity and dynamic evolution in extreme environments

T. Lefébure, C.J. Douady, Manolo Gouy, P. Trontel, J. Briolay, J. Gibert

Molecular Ecology . 15 : 1797-1806

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.02888.x

Journal article

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Mycobacterium bovis Infection

S. Mignard, Jean-Pierre Flandrois

Journal of Medical Microbiology . 56 : 1033-1041

Journal article

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Molecular diversity of rhizobia nodulating the invasive legume Cytisus scoparius in Australia.

Bénédicte Lafay, Jeremy J. Burdon

Journal of Applied Microbiology . 100 ( 6 ) : 1228-38

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.02902.x

Journal article

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Bradyrhizobia isolated from root nodules of Parasponia (Ulmaceae) do not constitute a separate coherent lineage.

Bénédicte Lafay, Erika Bullier, Jeremy J. Burdon

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology . 56 ( Pt 5 ) : 1013-8

DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.63897-0

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A maximum likelihood framework for protein design

Claudia Kleinman, Nicolas Rodrigue, Cécile Bonnard, Hervé Philippe, Nicolas Lartillot

BMC Bioinformatics . 7 : 326-336

DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-7-326

Journal article

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Quantitative prediction for two-dimensional bacterial genomic displays

Jean-François Mercier, Bénédicte Lafay, Gary W. Slater

American Physical Society Meeting .

Conference paper

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No Evidence for Tissue-Specific Adaptation of Synonymous Codon Usage in Humans

M. Sémon, J.R. Lobry, L. Duret

Molecular Biology and Evolution . 23 : 523-529

Journal article

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Global trends of whole-genome duplications revealed by the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia.

Jean-Marc Aury, Olivier Jaillon, L. Duret, Benjamin Noel, Claire Jubin, Betina M Porcel...

Nature . 444 ( 7116 ) : 171-8

DOI: 10.1038/nature05230

Journal article

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The GC Content of Primates and Rodents Genomes Is Not at Equilibrium : a Reply to Antezana

L. Duret

Journal of Molecular Evolution . -- : 803-806

Journal article

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The Xist RNA Gene Evolved in Eutherians by Pseudogenization of a Protein-Coding Gene

L. Duret, C. Chureau, S. Samain, J. Weissenbach, P. Avner

Science . 312 : 1653-1655

Journal article

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Evolutionary origin and maintenance of coexpressed gene clusters in mammals.

M. Sémon, L. Duret

Molecular Biology and Evolution . 23 : 1715-1723

Journal article

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Physiological oxygenation status is required for fully differentiated phenotype in kidney cortex proximal tubules.

Elodie de Laplanche, Karine Gouget, Guilhem Cléris, Franck Dragounoff, Jocelyne Demont, Anne Morales...

AJP Renal Physiology . 291 ( 4 ) : F750-60

DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00022.2006

Journal article

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HoSeql : automated homologous sequence identification in gene family databases

Anne-Muriel Arigon Chifolleau, G. Perrière, Manolo Gouy

Bioinformatics . 22 ( 14 ) : 1786-1787

DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btl179

Journal article

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Relationship between morphological taxonomy and molecular divergence within Crustacea : Proposal of a molecular threshold to help species delimitation

T. Lefébure, C.J. Douady, Manolo Gouy, J. Gibert

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 40 ( 2 ) : 435-447

DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.03.014

Journal article

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Use of PCR-Restriction Enzyme Pattern Analysis and Sequencing Database for hsp65 Gene-Based Identification of Nocardia Species

V. Rodriguez-Nava, A. Couble, G. Devulder, Jean-Pierre Flandrois, P. Boiron, F. Laurent

Journal of Clinical Microbiology . 44 ( 2 ) : 536-546

DOI: 10.1128/JCM.44.2.536-546.2006

Journal article

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16S rRNA sequencing in routine bacterial identification : A 30-month experiment

S. Mignard, Jean-Pierre Flandrois

Journal of Microbiological Methods . 67 : 574-581

Journal article

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Rapid identification of Enterobacteriaceae by sequencing DNA gyrase subunit B encoding gene

J. Delmas, F. Breysse, G. Devulder, Jean-Pierre Flandrois, M. Chomarat

Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease . 55 : 263-268

Journal article

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The origin and evolution of Archaea: a state of the art

Simonetta Gribaldo, Céline Brochier-Armanet

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci . 361 : 1007-22

Journal article

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A Bayesian Compound Stochastic Process for Modeling Nonstationary and Nonhomogeneous Sequence Evolution

Samuel Blanquart, Nicolas Lartillot

Molecular Biology and Evolution . 23 ( 11 ) : 2058-2071

DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msl091

Journal article

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Assessing Site-Interdependent Phylogenetic Models of Sequence Evolution

Nicolas Rodrigue, Herve Philippe, Nicolas Lartillot

Molecular Biology and Evolution . 23 ( 9 ) : 1762-1775

DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msl041

Journal article

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