Bioinformatics and Genetics
We use information technology and genetics to contribute to the knowledge of biological diversity, the natural environment, and the planet we live on.
The department was formed in 2013 and brings together museum activities in informatics and genetics. We conduct research and development in these areas, and operatemajor national and international infrastructures. The department is divided into three groups: bioinformatics, DNA laboratory and research.
Bioinformatics
We help scientists, policy makers and the general public to gather, process and analyse data about the Earth and its living environments. We host the Swedish node of GBIF
, the world's largest source of information on biodiversity.
We are also responsible for Naturforskaren, information on animals and plants, Naturarv, portal to Swedish natural history collections, and The Swedish DNA key, gene-based species identification.
DNA laboratory
We help researchers sequence the DNA of animals and plants, and to analyse the genetic information that results. This can involve reconstructing evolution over long time periods or inferring short-termprocesses at the species level.
Genetic data can also be used for species identification and ecological studies, see Centre for Genetic Identification (not yet available in English). We have access to modern laboratories equipped for many types of analyses.
Research
We study genetic diversity within and between species, and how different organisms are related based on DNA analyses of living and fossil specimens. The analyses help us understand how different species evolve and how they are affected by environmental changes, such as climate change and human activities.
We also develop statistical methods for evolutionary analyses. Our programs, MrBayes and RevBayes, are widely used in biological and medical research.
See also palaeogenetics.com
Contacts
Head of Department
Knud Jønsson
Phone: 076-5519205
E-mail: knud.jonsson@nrm.se
Department Administrator
Karin Letmark
Phone: 08-5195 4272
E-mail: karin.letmark@nrm.se
Bioinformatics
Margret Steinthorsdottir
Phone: 072-9662355
E-mail: margret.steinthorsdottir@nrm.se
DNA Laboratory
Martin Irestedt
Phone: 08-5195 4059
E-mail: martin.irestedt@nrm.se
Research
Tom van der Valk
08-5195 5195
tom.vandervalk@nrm.se
Fredrik Ronquist
Phone: 08-5195 4094
E-mail: fredrik.ronquist@nrm.se