Meet the Genomes
Meet the Genomes
Meet the Genomes
... and the organisms they encode!
WGDip researchers are working on organisms across the eukaryotic tree of life.
Our team aims to make novel advances in understanding the evolutionary role of whole genome duplication events by studying the crucial process of rediploidisation.
On this page, we introduce several of the diverse groups of organisms we are studying – including their sometimes weird and wonderful genomes.
.jpg)
Lamiales
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
The order Lamiales, commonly known as the “mint order,” includes several well-known and economically important plants. These range from kitchen staples such as basil, mint, rosemary, and sage to ornamental and crop species like snapdragons, sesame, and lilacs.
Members of this order have undergone several WGD events, which have played a significant role in shaping their evolutionary history.
This order includes the pictured Lathraea clandestina (purple toothwort), a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of other species. Lathraea has experienced a genome duplication event that may have contributed to the evolution of its parasitic lifestyle.
Purple toothwort is currently being studied by our colleagues Annabelle Knutson, Emily Haley and Alex Twyford, in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.
Ericales
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
This plant is parasitic, found on the roots of other plants. They lack chlorophyll and are unable to photosynthesise.
Lathraea experienced a genome duplication, which may have facilitated its parasitic adaptations!
This plant is being studied by our colleague Annabelle Knutson over in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
.jpg)
Stylommatophora
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
This plant is parasitic, found on the roots of other plants. They lack chlorophyll and are unable to photosynthesise.
Lathraea experienced a genome duplication, which may have facilitated its parasitic adaptations!
This plant is being studied by our colleague Annabelle Knutson over in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
Teleosts
Teleosts make up about half of all vertebrates. This diverse group is found in habitats spanning the globe, from the deepest oceans to high-altitude lakes, in freezing temperatures to hot springs.
All teleosts have undergone three whole genome duplication events, two shared with other jawed vertebrates, and one in their common ancestor. Several teleost lineages have experienced additional rounds of whole genome duplication, including the salmonids and snow carps, among others.
Several teleost whole genome duplications were followed by asynchronous rediploidisation (Robertson et al., 2017) (Parey et al., 2022) (Xie et al., 2026), providing key study systems for the WGDip project.
Teleosts are being studied by Drew Larson, Morgane Milin, Brianna Banting and Dan Macqueen at the University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with Manu Gundappa at Wageningen University, Sigbjørn Lien at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Yuan Tian at Ocean University China, WGDip colleagues at the Universities of Bristol and Bath.
.jpg)
Yeast
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
This plant is parasitic, found on the roots of other plants. They lack chlorophyll and are unable to photosynthesise.
Lathraea experienced a genome duplication, which may have facilitated its parasitic adaptations!
This plant is being studied by our colleague Annabelle Knutson over in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
Acipenseriforms
Species pictured: Oncorhynchus nerka
Teleosts are among the most diverse groups of vertebrates and are found in extreme habitats across the globe, from the deep ocean to high-altitude mountain lakes. These ray-finned fishes have undergone three WGDs.
The most recent WGD occurred in the ancestor of all teleost fishes approximately 300 million years ago. This event is strongly linked to the extensive diversification of teleosts, which now include over 35,000 species, and to their evolutionary success.
In addition, members of the order Salmoniformes experienced a salmonid-specific fourth round of whole-genome duplication, further contributing to their genetic complexity.
Salmonids are being studied by researchers Drew Larson and Morgane Milin at the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh.
.jpg)
Malea
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
This plant is parasitic, found on the roots of other plants. They lack chlorophyll and are unable to photosynthesise.
Lathraea experienced a genome duplication, which may have facilitated its parasitic adaptations!
This plant is being studied by our colleague Annabelle Knutson over in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
Microsporidia
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
This plant is parasitic, found on the roots of other plants. They lack chlorophyll and are unable to photosynthesise.
Lathraea experienced a genome duplication, which may have facilitated its parasitic adaptations!
This plant is being studied by our colleague Annabelle Knutson over in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
Diatoms
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
This plant is parasitic, found on the roots of other plants. They lack chlorophyll and are unable to photosynthesise.
Lathraea experienced a genome duplication, which may have facilitated its parasitic adaptations!
This plant is being studied by our colleague Annabelle Knutson over in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
Non-seed Plants
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
This plant is parasitic, found on the roots of other plants. They lack chlorophyll and are unable to photosynthesise.
Lathraea experienced a genome duplication, which may have facilitated its parasitic adaptations!
This plant is being studied by our colleague Annabelle Knutson over in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
Arachnids
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
This plant is parasitic, found on the roots of other plants. They lack chlorophyll and are unable to photosynthesise.
Lathraea experienced a genome duplication, which may have facilitated its parasitic adaptations!
This plant is being studied by our colleague Annabelle Knutson over in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
_edited.jpg)
Paramecium
Species pictured: Lathraea clandestina
This plant is parasitic, found on the roots of other plants. They lack chlorophyll and are unable to photosynthesise.
Lathraea experienced a genome duplication, which may have facilitated its parasitic adaptations!
This plant is being studied by our colleague Annabelle Knutson over in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
