Genomics Division

The Genomics Division focuses on the study of the molecular building blocks of life (DNA, RNA and proteins), their role in biological functions, in biotechnology, and in the ecological and evolutionary processes through which they shape biodiversity.

The Genomics Division covers four main research areas: Genome biology and evolution, Molecular ecology, Molecular developmental and cell biology, and Aquaculture genomics.

We apply molecular analyses to study biological functions (e.g. reproduction, development, growth, the immune system, gene regulation, molecular structure, and epigenetics), as well as the natural environment (e.g. biodiversity, the distribution of genetic variation in natural populations, natural and sexual selection, local adaptation, and the consequences of environmental change).

Our research has relevance to biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, biotechnology, medical biology, and aquaculture.

The Genomics Division manages the faculty's DeepSeq facility, a platform for high-throughput DNA and RNA sequencing, available to all divisions.

Sequencing

DeepSeq is the high-throughput sequencing facility at Nord University for the exploration of genomes and transcriptomes.

Research areas

The field of molecular ecology at FBA makes use of molecular genetic techniques to address questions in ecology, evolution, behavior, and conservation. One important topic at the Genomics division is the study of the distribution of genetic variation in natural populations of aquatic organisms (e.g., stickleback and salmonid fishes, Littorina snails and Lake Tanganyika sardines) to understand how populations manage to adapt to natural and human-induced environmental change.

Associated members: Joost Andre Raeymaekers; Anja Marie Westram; Jukka-Pekka Verta; Jarle Tryti Nordeide; Truls Moum
Complete sequencing of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, and corresponding data analysis, is one of the main research activities at the Genomics division. These analyses include re-sequencing of model species like zebrafish and stickleback, and the assembly of novel genomes from organisms like anglerfish, rasbora and slime mold protists at chromosome-grade or better. Structural organization of whole genomes (coding and non-coding regions) and genome evolution are being investigated. Complete mitochondrial genomes from various vertebrates (fish, birds, mammals) and corals (hexacorals, octocoral) are assembled and annotated, applied in phylogeny, and assessed for structural features.

Associated members: Steinar Daae Johansen; Lars Martin Jakt; Tor Erik Jørgensen; Igor Babiak; Irina Smolina; Truls Moum; Jarle Tryti Nordeide
Molecular development and cell biology at FBA covers molecular immunology, RNA biology, and developmental biology. Within molecular immunology, the overall goal is to understand how stressors modulate the immune system, as well as the interplay between pathogen and host especially in mucosal surfaces. In RNA biology, we study extremely diverged eukaryotes such as slime molds, sea anemones and corals to understand how self-catalytic introns (ribozymes) and other non-coding RNA (small ncRNAs and large ncRNAs) have emerged and evolved. The study of developmental biology at FBA targets the molecular mechanisms driving gamete formation and early embryonic development, with a focus on regulatory transcriptome and its modifications in zebrafish as the main model system. Currently, our main goal is to find out how the initial parental information, contained in gametes, is executed through the earliest stages of development.

Associated members: Igor Babiak, Joanna Babiak, Monica Fengsrud Brinchmann, Lars Martin Jakt, Steinar Daae Johansen, Terhi Karpanen, Tor Erik Jørgensen
Aquaculture genomics at FBA centers on the question why many fishes keep growing throughout their lives (unlike mammals) and how we can modulate their sexual maturation and growth by manipulation of environmental and nutritional conditions. Another important topic is fish health, with a strong focus on innate immunity.

Associated members:

Ioannis Konstantinidis, Jorge Fernandes, Jorge Galindo-Villegas

Selected research projects

The quality of the seafloor habitat is an important barometer for The Earth BioGenome project (EBP) engages thousands of scientists in more than 20 countries, aiming to completely sequence more than 1.8 million eukaryotic genomes. The scientific goal is to obtain new knowledge with relevance to Human welfare, Biodiversity, and Ecosystems. EBP-Nor is the RCN-financed Norwegian node of the project. EBP-Nor focuses on Norwegian endemic, iconic, and scientific interesting species. At Nord University (Genomics division) we are sequencing, assembling and annotating genomes like the European anglerfish.
Periwinkles are coastal snails that can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. With the warming climate, they can give us knowledge about how species can adapt to extreme environments.

In this project, we study populations of Littorina saxatilis, the rough periwinkle, from warm seawater in Spain and Italy, to colder waters along the coasts of Great Britain, Iceland and Norway and to the Arctic part of Russia.

This FRIPRO project has received 11 million Norwegian kroner from the Research Council of Norway (RCN).
This cutting-edge project investigates regulatory mechanisms governing the transfer, modifications, and execution of parental developmental instruction at the onset of embryonic development. Zebrafish and medaka are vertebrate animal models.
EPICOD is a timely initiative aiming to decipher the fundamental process of puberty in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Discerning the early onset of puberty in farmed cod, will enable its sustainable and effective production, provide food security and conserve natural resources and habitats. Because puberty is largely affected by external stimuli, we hypothesize that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in this process. To dissect cellular heterogeneity of key tissues involved in stimuli reception and hormonal secretion, we are using state-of-the-art single-cell epigenetic and transcriptomic assays as well as multidisciplinary approaches and cross-species validations.

The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway (NFR) with a budget of NOK 12 million from July 2023 to June 2028.