Ongoing work

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 The lab investigates fundamental questions in evolution and development using two model organisms, C. floridanus and Anaceratagallia ribauti. Current projects focus on deciphering key developmental genetic pathways and gene regulatory networks, with special attention to how endosymbionts influence host gene expression, germline specification, and body plan patterning. By examining these interactions at molecular and cellular levels—including the evolution of specialized cell types such as bacteriocytes and related structures—the group aims to reveal how intimate host–symbiont relationships shape developmental processes.

More broadly, the research seeks to clarify the mechanisms underlying major evolutionary transitions and to integrate endosymbiotic theory into a modern synthesis–based evolutionary framework. Through studies of developmental integration between hosts and their symbionts, the lab explores how endosymbiosis can drive innovation, stabilize cooperative traits, and ultimately contribute to the evolution of complex multicellular organization. Use of state-of-the-art facilities and expertise for imaging, transgenesis, and genetic manipulation of insect embryos supports and accelerates these research efforts.