Fukushima lab

Evolution can produce biological structures and functions of astonishing complexity. Our mission is to uncover the mechanisms that give rise to such evolutionary innovations. We integrate bioinformatics with experimental approaches to study a wide range of organisms, with a particular focus on plants.

A major focus of the lab is carnivorous plants, which capture animals and use them as a nutrient source. Using these remarkable plants as a starting point, we investigate key evolutionary phenomena including innovative trait evolution, convergent evolution, co-option, and phenotypic plasticity.