About
Laboratory of evolutionary zoology and genetics was established by Professor Nikolay Vorontsov in 1971. The principal initial staff came to Vladivostok from Novosibirsk Institute of Cytology and Genetics. The later newcomers were the graduates of Far Eastern State University. The laboratory follows the traditions of Nikolay Vorontsov’s school and expands his course.
Main directions
- Problem of species, speciation and species isolating mechanisms.
- Chromosome evolution, role of rearrangements in speciation.
- Phylogeography, molecular background of speciation and population differentiation.
- Natural hybrid zones and their evolutionary significance.
- Conservation genetics, genetic typing of endangered and protected species.
- Genetic aspects of biodiversity of terrestrial vertebrates, mainly in the Russian Far East.
- Application of karyological and molecular data to taxonomy.
- Ecological genetics and genetic safety.
Main achievements
- Mechanisms and ways of speciation and population differentiation were studied for several model groups of vertebrates.
- The role of isolated populations in pattern and dynamics of gene pools of representatives of small mammals in East Asia were revealed.
- Genogeography of marker proteins was investigated on ground squirrels, mice and other rodents.
- Using the complex of genetic approaches, taxonimic revision of Mus musculus superspecies was arranged, as well as for some other mammals, their range formation history was revealed.
- Phylogeographic structure of several widespread bird and mammalian species was explored.
- Several natural hybrid zones of birds and mammals were studied, the original hypothesis of the narrow hybrid zone stability was suggested.
- Increased genetic and morphological variability was found for some vertebrate species in South Russian Far East, and interpretation of the phenomenon supposed.
- The set of modern morphological and genetic analyses was used to shed light on micro- and macroevolution and phylogenetic relations, taxonomy and nomenclature in the complex of grey voles in East Asia.
- Based on complex morphological and genetic analyses, systematics of zokors – ancient endemic Asian group of subterranean mammals – was improved, species content was established and new species for Russia found out.
- Intergenomic homologous recombinations between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes was first time revealed in birds, which implies fast microevolutionary processes by means of haplotype exchanges.
- Karyological characteristics, including description of new karyotypes, were obtained for more than 150 vertebrate species.
- Contribution of chromosomal rearrangements for prezygitic isolation was proved experimentally which supports the concept of chromosomal speciation.
- The role of pericentromeric heterochromatin in micro- and macroevolution of the rodent karyotypes was shown.
- Distribution of additional (B-) chromosomes in karyotypes of the wood mice populations was studied and hypothesis of origin of these strictures suggested.
- Genetic threat of ecosystem’s pollution in the zones of ecological crisis in Primorye territory was estimated.