Research
The Crop Bioinformatics group develops and applies bioinformatics tools on genomic data, primarily from crops. We are part of the Institute for Crop Science and Resource Conservation at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Bonn and are located between the faculty offices and the greenhouses in Poppelsdorf.
In particular, we develop methods for protein function prediction & the analysis of gene family evolution in the context of adaptive processes. In collaborations with experimental groups, we analyze genome-wide expression data, insertion mutagenesis datasets and other large-scale sequencing data.
Protein Function Prediction
Gene Functional Relationships
Associating phenotypic traits such as root growth angle or resistance to particular environmental stresses with causal genes is central to crop breeding and improvement efforts.
To this end, we use established approaches (transcriptomics, bulked segregant analysis) and develop novel bioinformatic methods such as software for the automatic analysis of insertional mutagenesis libraries and the in-silico prediction of trait-associated gene families.
Genetic markers
Molecular genetic markers are a possibility to detect relationships between species, populations, variants or even individuals. Therefore, different analytical goals require different types of genetic markers.
Within our group, we work mostly on SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) and microsatellite markers, analyzing relationships between different inbred lines (in maize) as well as between different species.
