In the recent years powerful tools have become available to understand why and how organisms diversify. In my talk I will exemplify the use of “omics” in natural populations, giving insights into three different studies. What are the processes shaping the adaptive radiation of 24 species of Diospyros on New Caledonia after a single long-distance dispersal event? What is the importance of recurrent allopolyploidization in Dactylorhiza and what mechanisms allow sibling polyploids to adapt to divergent environments? How reproducible is parallel evolution of distinct ecotypes in Heliosperma? My group is currently addressing these questions by investigating the links between the genetic constitution of individuals, their epigenetic regulatory landscape and their native environmental conditions.
Biology is more exciting than ever!