Laboratory of Biohistory
JT Biohistory Research Hall

Guest Professor Hiroki ODA

hoda

URL: https://www.brh.co.jp/en/research/

We, the laboratory of biohistory,conduct experimental and theoreticalresearch aimed at deciphering thehistoricity, diversity, commonality,
hierarchy, and emergence embeddedin the genomes of living organisms, inorder to grasp the essence of living
entities encompassing cells,development, evolution, andecosystems. By focusing on genomes
rather than individual genes orspecies, we believe that studying awide range of organisms reveals theholistic nature of life. Our approach ischaracterized by a fundamental love
for living organisms, with acommitment to cherishing the
research questions and practicalprocesses undertaken by eachindividual. Currently, our laboratory is
primarily engaged in research themes
related to cell biology, developmental
biology, evolutionary biology, andmathematical biology, as described
below.

Evolution and diversification of cell-celladhesion structures in multicellular animals
In the cell-cell adhesion structures ofmulticellular animals, classical cadherins thatconnect cells have diverse primary structures
depending on the animal lineage. The
mechanism of cell-cell adhesion, which has
been well understood in vertebrates, does notnecessarily apply directly to invertebrates. We
aim to understand how early multicellularanimals initiated cell-cell adhesion and how
diverse mechanisms have emerged fromprimitive structures. To achieve this, we areconducting explorations using invertebrates asmaterials, employing a multidisciplinary
approach including genetics and structuralstudies.
Exploaration of ancestral mechanisms ofarthropod development
Multicellular animals have evolved diverse
forms through the formation of body axes andrepetitive structures. In particular, the phylum
Arthropoda demonstrates a remarkablediversity of evolution among species while
sharing a body axis with repetitive patterns.

Fragmentary data to datesuggest that evenmorphological traits common toarthropods have diversified in
the processes forming themacross species and lineages. To
address questions regarding thedevelopmental mechanisms ofancestral arthropods, whydevelopmental processes havediversified, and how suchdiversification has beenachieved, we are utilizing ourestablished experimental
system with spiders.
Theoretical research on therelationship between
development and evolution inarthropods
What is an phylum, a groupof animals sharing a bodyplan? Answering thisfundamental question requires
an understanding of therelationship between thedevelopment and evolution ofanimals. However, there arelimitations to addressing thisissue through comparative
analyses using actual organisms
or evolutionary experiments.
Therefore, we are constructing
a platform for numericalexperimentation by creating
virtual multicellular bodies
represented as sets of polygons
on computers, using thephylum Arthropoda as a model.
This platform integrates
mechanisms for dynamicallymoving cells and genetic
networks, as well asintercellular interactions,allowing us to experiment witharthropod-like development
and evolution throughcomputational simulations.

Exciting and significant discoveries are still
waiting to be made. We invite you to visit
our laboratory to see our latest
endeavors firsthand.

JT Biohistory Research Hall
1-1 Murasaki-cho, Takatsuki, Osaka
569-1125, Japan
TEL: +81-72-681-9750
FAX : + 81-72-681-9743
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