Evolution, biodiversity and conservation division members
We are a team of academics working on applying evolutionary concepts to fundamental questions in biology.
Evolution, Biodiversity and Conservation
Uniting expertise in evolution, biodiversity and conservation to explore fundamental and applied questions about life’s origins, diversity and future.
About our division
Our division brings together expertise in evolution, biodiversity, and conservation to answer fundamental and applied questions about life’s origins, diversity, and future.
We study organisms across the tree of life from microbes to mammals using genomic, ecological, and palaeobiological approaches.
Our work spans micro to macroevolution, investigating how diversity arises, persists, and declines, and applying this knowledge to tackle global challenges such as disease, food security, and species conservation.
Focus areas:
- comparative and functional genomics
- experimental evolution and evolutionary quantitative genetics
- pathogen diversity, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccine design
- life history traits and biodiversity maintenance
- macroevolutionary trends, mass extinctions, and fossil record analysis
- genome duplications and their role in diversification
- conservation of species and habitats
- impacts of global environmental change and urbanisation
Our people
Find out more about our members and their research.
News
Read news and updates from our Division.
Too many male animals in zoos could hamper conservation of endangered species, warn scientists
Scientists have found that factors including mating systems and brood size could predict the ratio of males to females for animals bred in captivity.
Mammals' lifespans linked to brain size and immune system function, says new study
Why do cats generally live longer than dogs? New research shows cats’ longer lifespans could be linked to their bigger brains and more complex immune systems.
Insight into one of life’s earliest ancestors revealed in new study
The Last Common Universal Ancestor (LUCA), from which life evolved into bacteria, plants and animals, was older and more complex than previously thought.
Complex life developed earlier than previously thought, new study reveals
New study suggests complex cells evolved around 2.9 billion years ago, almost a billion years earlier than other estimates.
Capturing 100 years of antibiotic resistance evolution
The genetic culprits responsible for spreading multidrug resistance in bacteria have been identified by new research mapping 100 years of bacterial evolution.
New research brings hope for earlier detection of pre-eclampsia
Research from the Milner Centre for Evolution has identified a molecular switch that could be potentially used for screening for dangerous pre-eclampsia.
About us
We study organisms from microbes to mammals using genomic, ecological and palaeobiological approaches. Our work spans micro to macroevolution, examining how diversity emerges, persists and declines, and applying this knowledge to major challenges including disease, food security and conservation, with focus on genomics, evolution, pathogen diversity, biodiversity, fossils and environmental change.
Contact us
If you have any questions about our research division, please get in touch.