The origin and development of life on Earth is one of the biggest questions in the natural sciences. We know of millions of species of plants and animals, from invisibly small to very large. Natural selection continuously plays an important role in species formation and has led to a great diversity of forms of life of which only a small part has been described and understood. We are far from knowing how many species there are in total and how many mechanisms are involved in species formation, species segregation and species-specific modes of reproduction. Underlying issues cover a wide range from the origins of the genetic code to the adaptation of individual species and ecosystems to changes in their immediate habitat and environment. A better understanding of evolutionary processes will not only give us insights into the functioning of ecosystems, organisms, organs and even cells. We can also learn from this research what the influences of diverse environmental factors are and how to influence them in a desired way.
Connecting character
Understanding the dynamics of species formation and species interactions is important for understanding complex systems of living organisms. Exploiting these species for useful applications to benefit humans requires a better understanding of the stability of these systems under variable conditions and environmental pressures. In addition, insights about underlying principles and mechanisms of complex systems can be translated into useful tools for research, development and applications. The importance of this research is endorsed by Dutch and European research programmes running in the field of biodiversity.
