Leibniz-IZW Colloquium
The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research regularly organizes scientific seminars on various topics, in which invited speakers or IZW scientists present their work in the form of a lecture. The free lectures take place in the lecture hall of the IZW and are also broadcast live via video.
Interested persons are cordially invited to attend the Leibniz-IZW colloquien in person or online. You are welcome to sign up for our newsletter at izwseminar@izw-berlin.de. The lectures will be held mostly in English.
Upcoming events
8th October 2024, 1-3 p.m. (2 lectures)
Ass. Prof. Lisa Martin (School of Chemistry, Monash University, Australia)
Title: Structural and Mechanistic Insight into Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis: What can we learn from species about evolution?
Steroid hormone biosynthesis starts with cholesterol and directs precursors towards mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and sex hormones. Cytochrome P450 enzymes, particularly CYP17 and CYP19, are crucial for these processes, with multifunctional roles in reproduction. We investigated the structural, functional, and evolutionary aspects of CYP17 and CYP19 across species. Aromatase (CYP19) converts androstenedione and testosterone into oestrogens, with similar function across species. Our studies, including molecular modelling and experimental methods, suggest that CYP17 and CYP19 form stable homodimers for multi-step transformations, with species-specific differences in dimerisation, especially in extinct homotherium. Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy supports these findings.
Prof. Raymond Rodgers (University of Adelaide, Australia)
Title: Reproductive biology needed to save wildlife: A perspective from Reproductive Health Australia
Presenting a seminar on this topic at the Leibniz-Institut für Zoo- und Wildtierforschung is possibly like selling ice to Eskimos. That said, Reproductive Health Australia is an advocacy group, working across wildlife, agriculture, human and now planetary health.
Under the leadership of Ass. Prof Lisa Martin a workshop was held addressing the topic of what reproductive biological knowledge could most assist in saving wildlife species. The attendees were from zoos, wildlife organisations, universities, museums, and government organisations. Most were from Australia and hence this workshop was based toward conservation of Australian species.
This seminar will briefly summarise the outcomes of the workshop and our plans for saving wildlife in the future. Audience participation at this seminar will be encouraged. Please come along and contribute. All ideas are welcome.
4th December 2024, 1 p.m.
Dr. Kathirvel Alagesan (Max-Planck-Forschungsstelle für die Wissenschaft der Pathogene, Berlin)
Title and abstract follows
Contact
Organization
Constanze Wiechert
Tel: +49(0)30 5168-336
E-Mail: wiechert@izw-berlin.de, izwseminar@izw-berlin.de
Christine Reusch
Tel. +49(0)30 5168-124
E-Mail: izwseminar@izw-berlin.de
Accounting
Stefanie Lenz
Tel: +49(0)30 5168-459
E-Mail: lenz@izw-berlin.de
Last Update: 20th August 2024