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Information Biology Lab
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The lab links genome and environmental data to uncover the diversity of marine life.
AboutAbout the lab
Making the appeal of diversity visible
The Information Biology Lab (Obayashi Lab) uses information science to connect genome and environmental observation data, studying the differences and connections among living things.
Its main focus is currently marine ecosystems, from coastal waters to the open ocean.
Through genome analysis and field observation, the lab discovers organisms and phenomena that were previously invisible.
Through databases, visualization, and AI, the lab aims to turn the meaning and appeal of diversity into knowledge that people can understand and put to use.
Key terms
- Genome
- Information in which the workings of a species are encoded using four letters: A, C, G, and T
- Gene coexpression
- An approach that uses expression data to examine the tendency of multiple genes to be active at the same time under the same conditions
- Plankton
- A general term for organisms that live drifting in the water of seas and lakes
ResearchResearch themes
Life's diversity cannot be captured by the number of species or genes alone. Focusing mainly on marine ecosystems from coastal waters to the open ocean, the lab uses information science to connect genome and environmental observation data, and analyzes the functions and states of organisms and their responses to the environment.
*Illustrative imageUnderstanding changing marine ecosystems
The Obayashi Unit of the Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC) and the Onagawa Field Center work to understand the dynamics of life in Onagawa Bay in an integrated way, through analysis of physicochemical data, genome analysis of plankton, and more. Using Onagawa Bay as a model, they aim to elucidate marine dynamics along the Sanriku coast.
*Illustrative imageSystems genomics
Based on the idea that the systems of cells and individual organisms arise from combinations of many genes, the lab reads genomes to learn the characteristics and weaknesses of those systems. Using a gene coexpression approach, it extracts information from gene expression data and builds databases covering plants, animals, and microalgae.
*Illustrative imageBioenergy production with microalgae
The lab produces bioenergy from microalgae by strengthening their lipid metabolism and making their cultivation more efficient. This is joint research with Prof. Hiroyuki Ohta of Tokyo Institute of Technology and Phytolipid Technologies Co., Ltd.
*Illustrative imageUnderstanding the dynamics of fishery resources
It is not well understood whether released fish are merely caught, or whether they also contribute to reproduction. By estimating kinship between released and wild individuals, the lab investigates the dynamics of fishery resources. This is joint research with Prof. Minoru Ikeda of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University.
MembersFaculty
The Information Biology Lab consists of faculty members, project researchers, technical assistants, secretaries, and master's and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorTakeshi Obayashi
- Assistant ProfessorKatsuya Uchida
- Associate Professor浜端 朋子
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Model of the Anton Dohrn (Museum Windstärke 10 Cuxhaven)” Wikitarisch / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Understanding changing marine ecosystems: “OnagawaGenpatsu” ToshiJapon / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Systems genomics: “DNBSEQ-G400” RPSkokie / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Bioenergy production with microalgae: “Photobioreactor PBR 4000 G IGV Biotech” IGV Biotech / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Understanding the dynamics of fishery resources: “Tonnes of sardines at Rameswaram fishing port in India.” Rudolph.A.furtado / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Intelligent Robotics and AI Lab): “US Navy 100531-N-7676W-075 Visitors interact with the , dexterous, social (MDS) robot Octavia at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) exhibit during Fleet Week New York 2010” U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Intelligent Control Systems Lab): “Stanford Cart and Hydraulic Arm ( )” Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Image Analysis Lab): “Optical Sensor” QueSera4710 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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