Evolution

Evolution surrounds us, from the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals to the response of plant and animal populations to habitat loss and climate change. 

Classical evolutionary theory transformed how we view the origins and inter-relationships of organisms.  Today, new technologies are revealing previously unfathomed degrees of genetic diversity across all taxa and new research approaches are showing that this diversity often evolves rapidly and extensively over human time scales.  Evolutionary research by an interactive community at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich utilizes new technologies and powerful experimental, mathematical and computational methods to better understand processes of biological evolution across a broad range of organisms.  This research addresses a diverse range of evolutionary themes relevant to both fundamental theoretical questions and applications in health, agriculture and conservation.