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Content archived on 2024-06-18

New Algorithmic and Mathematical Tools to Construct a Net of Life

Objective

Phylogenetics, the study of evolutionary relationships among groups of species, is a well-established interdisciplinary scientific field. Until today, phylogeneticists put a lot of effort into the precise reconstruction of evolutionary trees. However, in recent years, the research focus on reconstructing phylogenetic trees is turning towards the reconstruction of phylogenetic networks because evolution cannot be properly represented as a tree. For example, a comparison of several trees that all represent a given set of present-day species and have been reconstructed for different genetic loci often reveals conflicting tree topologies. These discrepancies are not always due to missampling or uncertainty in the tree reconstruction method, but rather due to reticulation (e.g. horizontal gene transfer, hybridization, or recombination).

Since phylogenetic networks are far more complex than phylogenetic trees, new mathematical and computational tools are needed. This proposal suggests new directions of research within the broad area of phylogenetic networks. First, we will develop new (fixed-parameter) algorithms to analyze intrahost recombination in viruses and apply them to biological data sets. This will provide new insight into the evolution of RNA viruses (e.g. HIV), which is essential in the development of any medication. Second, noting that many questions that are polynomial-time solvable for phylogenetic trees are NP-hard for when stated in terms of networks, we will tackle these harder questions by using novel methodology. Instead of directly solving a problem for a network, we will transform a given network into a tree by using the concept of tree-decompositions, and then solve an `easier' problem for the obtained tree. In particular, we will investigate problems related to the parsimony score of a phylogenetic network and supernetworks.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IOF
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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)

Coordinator

EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN
EU contribution
€ 192 461,62
Address
GESCHWISTER-SCHOLL-PLATZ
72074 Tuebingen
Germany

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Region
Baden-Württemberg Tübingen Tübingen, Landkreis
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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