Labs in Tohoku University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology

3 student voices

A lab that seeks an integrated understanding of the diversity and complexity of ecosystems.

The Integrative Ecology Lab aims to gain an integrated understanding of the diversity, complexity, and adaptive evolution that characterize ecosystems. Ecosystems are enormous complex systems driven by diverse organisms interacting with one another. The lab uses a wide range of tools: analytical methods such as mathematical and statistical models, ecological monitoring data obtained from underwater visual surveys by diving, environmental DNA, and acoustic observation in the sea, and artificial ecosystem experiments using bacteria and insects. Professor Kaori Fujita (concurrent appointment) studies biodiversity and natural capital in business, the relationship between natural capital disclosure and finance, sustainable procurement that takes the environment and society into account, and the SDGs and regional revitalization. Assistant Professor Kota Ishikawa studies behavioral ecology and community ecology. Assistant Professor Chisato Kobayashi (project appointment) studies plant-processing behavior of herbivorous insects, interspecific interactions surrounding herbivorous insects, the evolution of predator-avoidance behavior, and the relationship between humans and nature. In the graduate school, the lab corresponds to the Integrative Ecology group of the Department of Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences.

#Ecosystems #Environmental DNA #Mathematical and statistical models

1 student voices

A lab that uncovers microbial evolution and adaptation through bacteria that consume environmental pollutants.

The Microbial Genetics and Evolution Lab studies bacteria that degrade environmental pollutants chemically synthesized by humans. It aims to comprehensively understand, at the levels of enzymes, genes, genomes, cells, populations, and the environment, how such bacteria arose and by what mechanisms they can metabolize recalcitrant compounds. The knowledge gained is also used to establish methods for developing untapped microbial functions and for applications in environmental remediation.

#Pollutant-degrading bacteria #Genome analysis #Mobile genetic elements

1 student voices

A lab that uncovers the evolution of traits from vast amounts of genomic information.

The Evolutionary Genomics Lab (Makino Lab) uses large-scale biological information to understand the genetic basis of organisms' traits and aims to elucidate their evolutionary processes. As data such as genome sequences and gene expression accumulate rapidly with technological innovations like next-generation sequencing, it is becoming increasingly important to find what makes organisms fascinating in this vast amount of information. In particular, the lab focuses on genes duplicated in the genome and studies their relationship to diseases and ecological characteristics. In the graduate school, the lab corresponds to the Evolutionary Genomics group of the Department of Molecular and Chemical Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences.

#Duplicated genes #Comparative genomic analysis #Evolution

0 student voices

A neuroscience lab that seeks to understand the brain's higher functions through their functional architecture.

The Neural Systems Lab aims to elucidate the higher functions of the brain, and for that purpose places importance on understanding the brain's functional architecture. People think, make judgments, and act based on stimuli from the outside and on information they have stored in memory. The lab emphasizes understanding functional localization, the neural structures that support functions, how information is represented, and the steps of information processing as one connected whole. At the graduate level, the lab corresponds to the Neural Systems group in the Department of Brain Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences.

#Higher brain functions #Functional structures

0 student voices

神経行動 (introduction coming soon)

Neural basis of sensory processing, memory and learning; behavioral analysis; neuroanatomy

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分子行動 (introduction coming soon)

Social cognition, individual recognition, face recognition, genome editing, social brain

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脳機能発達 (introduction coming soon)

Experience-dependent gene expression regulation, neuroscience of postnatal ability development, in vivo live brain imaging, social interaction, communication, animal models of brain disorders, songbird song learning

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膜輸送機構解析 (introduction coming soon)

Intracellular vesicle trafficking, melanosome transport, autophagy, secretion, neurotransmitter release, Rab

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発生ダイナミクス (introduction coming soon)

Regulation of cell dynamics in ontogeny, microtubule dynamics, evolutionary cell biology

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細胞小器官疾患学 (introduction coming soon)

Proteomic analysis of organelle membranes; biological phenomena at the cytoplasmic lipid layer of organelles; organelle cooperation mechanisms regulating innate immune responses, their breakdown and disease; development and application of novel membrane phospholipid-binding probes