The Schmidt-Ott lab uses experimental and genomic approaches to study the molecular basis of evolutionary novelties and causes of developmental systems drift in embryos, using a broad range old and new fly models, including midges and mosquitoes (Diptera). We are interested in mechanisms pattern formation and morphogenesis. We welcome students and scholars who are interested in using our zoo of fly species to understand how plasticity and robustness shape gene networks and developmental mechanisms.
            Max-Planck-Institute f. Biophys. Chemistry
            Göttingen (Germany)
            Postdoc - Molecular Developmental Biology
            1997          
            University of Mainz
            Mainz (Germany)
            PhD - Genetics
            1994          
            University of Freiburg
            Freiburg i. Br. (Germany)
            Diplom - Biology
            1990          
            Genomic Resources for the Scuttle Fly Megaselia abdita: A Model Organism for Comparative Developmental Studies in Flies.
            Genomic Resources for the Scuttle Fly Megaselia abdita: A Model Organism for Comparative Developmental Studies in Flies. bioRxiv. 2025 Feb 04.
            PMID: 39868096
          
            Conservation of symmetry breaking at the level of chromatin accessibility between fly species with unrelated anterior determinants.
            Conservation of symmetry breaking at the level of chromatin accessibility between fly species with unrelated anterior determinants. bioRxiv. 2025 Jan 14.
            PMID: 39868093
          
            Intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (PULSAR): 48-week results from a randomised, double-masked, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial.
            Intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (PULSAR): 48-week results from a randomised, double-masked, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2024 03 23; 403(10432):1141-1152.
            PMID: 38461841
          
            Intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg in diabetic macular oedema (PHOTON): 48-week results from a randomised, double-masked, non-inferiority, phase 2/3 trial.
            Intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg in diabetic macular oedema (PHOTON): 48-week results from a randomised, double-masked, non-inferiority, phase 2/3 trial. Lancet. 2024 03 23; 403(10432):1153-1163.
            PMID: 38461843
          
            Evaluation of Physician Knowledge of Safety and Safe Use Information for Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection in Europe: A Second Survey of Physicians Following Dissemination of Updated Risk-Minimization Materials.
            Evaluation of Physician Knowledge of Safety and Safe Use Information for Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection in Europe: A Second Survey of Physicians Following Dissemination of Updated Risk-Minimization Materials. Pharmaceut Med. 2024 Jan; 38(1):63-73.
            PMID: 38049618
          
            Twenty-seven ZAD-ZNF genes of Drosophila melanogaster are orthologous to the embryo polarity determining mosquito gene cucoid.
            Twenty-seven ZAD-ZNF genes of Drosophila melanogaster are orthologous to the embryo polarity determining mosquito gene cucoid. PLoS One. 2023; 18(1):e0274716.
            PMID: 36595500
          
            How two extraembryonic epithelia became one: serosa and amnion features and functions of Drosophila's amnioserosa.
            How two extraembryonic epithelia became one: serosa and amnion features and functions of Drosophila's amnioserosa. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2022 12 05; 377(1865):20210265.
            PMID: 36252222
          
            Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom.
            Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2022 12 05; 377(1865):20210250.
            PMID: 36252213
          
            Evolution and loss of ß-catenin and TCF-dependent axis specification in insects.
            Evolution and loss of ß-catenin and TCF-dependent axis specification in insects. Curr Opin Insect Sci. 2022 04; 50:100877.
            PMID: 35104659
          
            Embryo polarity in moth flies and mosquitoes relies on distinct old genes with localized transcript isoforms.
            Embryo polarity in moth flies and mosquitoes relies on distinct old genes with localized transcript isoforms. Elife. 2019 10 08; 8.
            PMID: 31591963
          
            Habilitation
            Technical University of Braunschweig (Germany)
            2001          
            Dissertation Research Award
            Association of Friends of the University of Mainz
            1995          
            Postdoctoral Fellowship
            German Research Foundation (DFG)
            1995 - 1997          
            PhD summa cum laude
            University of Mainz
            1994          
            Fellow
            Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
            1989