Institute of Evolution

The Institute of Evolution (IoE) 

Established in the University of Haifa at 1977 by prof. Eviatar Nevo, includes 12 faculty members (members of the Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology) and more than 20 affiliated scientists with PhD degrees.

The Institute of Evolution (IOE) at the University of Haifa is unique in its broad and interdisciplinary research with particular expertise in population and evolutionary genetics, developmental evolution, behavioral evolution, bioinformatics and ecology. The IOE is situated on Mount Carmel at the heart of the Carmel national park, next to one of most beautiful cities around the Mediterranean, we are in prefect location to study biodiversity and evolution.  We are abundant with in house and outdoor facilities providing for modern, cutting edge science. Together with the Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology  based in our campus, we are a center of excellence in the field of ecology and evolution in the north of Israel.

Institute News



Congratulations to Prof. Eran Tauber for winning an EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action for doctoral education and postdoctoral training for research of biological clocks in Insects!


בנק הגנים .12023_1_ENGsubs (1).mp4

Catсhing Blind Mole Rats by Dr. Imad Shams in the Upper Galilee

Imad Video.mp4

Credit: Dr. Grace Smarsh

Scientific Seminars 

The presented lectures deal mainly with the hot topics in evolutionary biology, molecular genetics, genomics, and ecology. The seminars are delivered by expert lecturers and distinguished visitors in a relaxed environment

At this point, the seminars will be held on Mondays at 12:00 pm 

      Next seminar:


  22.07.2024, Seminar Room 223, Multi-purpose building

( Special Lecture)



 Prof. Alexey Amunts

Westlake University, Hangzhou, China



How genes become machines in mitochondria 

The mitoribosome translates mitochondrial mRNAs and regulates energy production, a hallmark of eukaryotic life. We present cryo-EM analyses of mitoribosome assembly intermediates, mRNA binding, and nascent polypeptide delivery to the membrane. To study the assembly mechanism, we identified small mitoribosomal subunit intermediates in complex with regulatory factors, elucidating how step-specific factors establish the catalytic mitoribosome. Once mitoribosomal subunits are mature, mRNA delivery is then facilitated by the helical repeat factor LRPPRC, which forms a stable complex with a small binding partner SLIRP, stabilizing mRNAs co-transcriptionally and linking the gene expression system. Finally, nascent polypeptides are delivered to the mitochondrial inner membrane, and we report the mitoribosome structure bound to the insertase OXA1, explaining the coupling of protein synthesis to membrane delivery. Along with the identification of functional cofactors and specific rRNA modifications, the data illuminate the principal components responsible for mitochondrial translation and its regulation