Who we are:
The University of Edinburgh is a world-leading research-intensive University, and includes one of the largest centres of biological research in the UK. The School of Biological Sciences houses 130 research groups using highly integrative approaches to study evolution, ecology, biomedicine, cell biology, genetics and synthetic biology. The University is a centre of excellence in genomic science, and is home to Edinburgh Genomics, one of the largest open access providers of advanced genomics services in the UK.
What we’re doing in the Darwin Tree of Life Project:
The University of Edinburgh plays two roles in DToL. We work with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) as the Edinburgh plant collection GAL. We support plant collections through curating species lists, advising on collection strategies, developing collection summary statistics and steering DNA barcode developments. We are also a genome analysis hub, developing strategies to sequence and assemble large and complex plant genomes.
Why we’re invested in the Darwin Tree of Life Project:
Plant genomes demonstrate unparalleled variation in genome size, organisation, and diversity. Yet currently available genomes represent only a fraction of known plant diversity. DToL will generate genomes of all British and Irish native plant species—from the miniature genomes of some carnivorous plants, to the obese genome of parasitic mistletoe. These data will provide major new insights into the dynamic nature of plant genomes, and form the foundation for large-scale analyses linking genomics to the underpinning ecological and evolutionary factors.