Dear all,

this week's Thursday seminar (4th September, 12:15, on site, room MA 342) features a very high profile speaker - it's an honour to have Prof. Scott F: Gilbert, a world leading developmental biologist as our guest, with the topic

"Holobiont Evo-Devo: How Symbionts might direct evolutionary trajectories."

Professor Gilbert is a pioneering figure in the fields of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) and ecological developmental biology (eco-devo), and author of the classic textbook Developmental Biology, now in its 13th edition. His research has explored the mechanisms of turtle shell formation, revealing the role of trunk neural crest cells in the development of the plastron. Additionally, he has been instrumental in conceptualizing the holobiont-the host and its symbiotic microbes considered as a single unit of developmental and evolutionary significance. In his lecture, Professor Gilbert will present new material on holobiont evo-devo, discussing how symbionts can: * provide new, selectable phenotypes * initiate the formation of new organs * cause reproductive isolation

This seminar is organized together with the Kvantum institute, and there will be coffee served at 12:00!

See you on Thursday!

Heikki