Our Knowledge Networks

In the Netherlands, about 300 scientists are engaged in research into life and evolution every day. They dream of new discoveries, both big and small. The Origins Center connects these researchers in Knowledge Networks.

Origin and co-evolution of earth-like planets and life

The Earth is currently the only place where life is known to exist. Wouldn't it be great if we found other planets on which life exists? Techniques are available to answer that question over the next decades.

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Wim van Westrenen

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Wim van Westrenen

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Website

The formation and early evolution of Earth-like planets and moons
The emergence of the right conditions for the origin of life
The interaction between life and its environment

Networks:

Origin and co-evolution of earth-like planets and life Finding extraterrestrial life Building and repairing life - from molecule to ecosystem

Fields of interest:

I am interested in rocky planet formation and early evolution. In the context of the Origins Centre I would like to learn more about the geological context for origin of life by studying the interplay between the chemistry and dynamics of proto-planetary disks and the interior structure, surface and atmospheric properties of rocky exoplanets.

Aardwetenschappen, planetary science

Predicting evolution of life

Thanks to evolution, the great diversity of life came into being. If we could predict or control the course of evolution, we would be able to solve major social problems. Preventing bee extinction, for example; or tackling resistant bacteria; and we may even reverse environmental pollution.

Join this network | Upcoming meetings

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Liedewij Laan

Member Steering Committee

TU Delft

Liedewij Laan

Member Steering Committee

TU Delft

Website

The emergence of life
The emergence of eukaryotes

Networks:

Predicting evolution of life Building and repairing life - from molecule to ecosystem

Fields of interest:

As pioneers of the emerging field of evolutionary cell biophysics, we aim to understand how the building blocks of a cell constrain and facilitate evolution of cellular functions. The function we focus on is symmetry breaking in budding yeast. We do experimental evolution, quantitative cell biology and modeling in live cells in combination with minimal in vitro systems to understand the molecular mechanisms of adaptive mutations and to predict fitness, both with bottom-up (biophysics) and top-down (statistical) approaches.

cell biophysics, predicting evolution, minimal synthetic systems

Building and repairing life - from molecule to ecosystem

Living organisms are constantly interacting with their environment. This happens at the scale of (bio)molecules to cells and from animals and plants to complete ecosystems. Researchers want to know exactly how life functions. If that insight improves, we can repair broken life, treat (genetic) diseases and rebuild lost ecosystems.

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Sijbren Otto

Member Steering Committee

University of Groningen

Sijbren Otto

Member Steering Committee

University of Groningen

Website

The emergence of the right conditions for the origin of life
The emergence of molecules relevant to life
The emergence of life-like functions
The emergence of Darwinian evolution
The emergence of life
The interaction between life and its environment
The emergence of complex relationships between mutations (genotype) and their effects on life (phenotype)

Networks:

Bridging long temporal and spatial scales Emergence of homochirality in living systems Building and repairing life - from molecule to ecosystem

Fields of interest:

Our long-term aim is to make life de-novo. We are working on the integration of self-replication with metabolism and compartmentalization while operating the system far from equilibrium (in a replication-destruction regime) allowing it to undergo Darwinian evolution. Through these efforts a plausible path to a completely synthetic form of life is starting to be unveiled.

chemistry, systems chemistry, origins of life, synthesis of life

Finding extraterrestrial life

If we can say that life exists outside of the Earth, it changes our view of humanity's role in the Universe. Is the Earth really unique as the cradle of life? Technological developments will enable researchers to find the answer in the coming decades

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Bert Vermeersen

TU Delft and Royal NIOZ

Bert Vermeersen

TU Delft and Royal NIOZ

Website

The formation and early evolution of Earth-like planets and moons
The emergence of the right conditions for the origin of life

Networks:

Origin and co-evolution of earth-like planets and life Finding extraterrestrial life

Fields of interest:

Search for habitability of icy moons in our Solar System and around exoplanets

Planetary Sciences and Exploration, Geodynamics

Bridging long temporal and spatial scales

Research into the origins and evolution of life requires a great deal of imagination from scientists. They have to make comparisons between situations that are billions of years apart. They also must relate molecular processes to entire ecosystems. This requires detailed computer models that can make these leaps in time and scale easy to handle.

Join this network | Upcoming meetings

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Roeland Merks

Leiden University

Roeland Merks

Leiden University

Website

The emergence of multicellular life
The emergence of complex relationships between mutations (genotype) and their effects on life (phenotype)

Networks:

Bridging long temporal and spatial scales Predicting evolution of life

Fields of interest:

I am interested in the origins of multicellular life. How did single cells decide to collaborate in multicellular structures? How did task division originate, such as the cell differentiation into neurons, muscle cells, blood vessel cells, and so forth? How is it possible that somitic cells give up their own chance to contribute to the next generation in favour of a small number of germ cells? And why do somitic cells not attempt to escape their supporting role more often, such as in cancer? We address these questions using mathematical and computational modeling.

Computational Biology, Theoretical Biology, Cell-Based Modeling, Morphogenesis, Angiogenesis

Emergence of homochirality in living systems

Prior to the emergence of life, chemistry was likely producing both left- and right-hand versions of hydrocarbons in equal proportions. These molecules are called chiral molecules. In contrast, life has emerged from only one of the two versions of these chiral molecules. This preference for one handedness has become a fingerprint of living systems, from molecules to plants and animals. It has fascinated scientists from Darwin's time into the 21st century.

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Nathalie Katsonis

University of Groningen

Nathalie Katsonis

University of Groningen

Website

The emergence of molecules relevant to life
The emergence of life-like functions

Networks:

Emergence of homochirality in living systems

Fields of interest:

Swimming cells follow helical trajectories - including bacteria, zooplankton, sperm cells, ciliates and protozoa. We use minimal models of swimming cells to research the rules that govern their motile behavior in water. One of our conclusions is that the operation of artificial molecular machines can steer this helical motion in specific directions.

chemistry