Unraveling the formation history of marine biodiversity through genome data!
A wide variety of marine organisms are distributed along the coasts of the Japanese archipelago.
Then, how did these species diversify, and how did they come to acquire their present distributions?
Such historical processes are thought to involve complex interactions of various factors, such as environmental changes along the Japanese coasts and the adaptive evolution of species.
Differences in DNA (genome) sequences between and within species provide important clues for inferring such histories.
"Population genomics" is a research field that clarifies the evolutionary history of species by uncovering patterns of "genetic differentiation" between and within species using large-scale genome data.
Through population genomics of Japanese marine species, I aim to elucidate the historical processes of their diversification and apply these insights to the conservation of marine biodiversity.
Educational approach
Aiming for diverse research development based on genome data
I have supervised several doctoral and master's research projects so far.
When graduate students decide on their research topics, I believe there are mainly two patterns.
The first is the pattern where students have already firmly decided on the species or topic they want to study when they enroll.
The second is the pattern where students select the lab with a vague image of the research they want to do, but are not yet sure of the specific theme at the beginning.
I try to decide research themes according to each student's situation.
At times, I also venture into species or research areas different from my own subjects, studying together with students to enhance their motivation for research.
Vision for industry-academia collaboration
Applying evolutionary research of marine organisms to conservation
For example, if populations of a fish species on the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan side have largely different DNA (genome) sequences, it can be inferred that there has been little movement of individuals between these areas for a long time, suggesting the existence of some geographical barriers restricting movement.
Such regional populations within a species are considered to have undergone completely different evolutionary processes up to the present, and may possess different phenotypes (such as external morphology or tolerance capacity).
Conversely, in marine organisms, many cases have been found where species thought to be reproductively isolated actually interbreed (hybridize).
The regional populations within species and interspecific relationships revealed by genome data provide important information for identifying conservation units of marine species.
