Georgii "Yegor" Bazykin
Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology
Georgii Bazykin graduated from the Biology Department of the Moscow State University in 2001. He obtained PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University in 2007. Since 2007, he has headed the Sector of Molecular Evolution at the Kharkevitch Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IITP RAS).
Prof. Bazykin’s research interests lie in the field of biological evolution at different levels. He focuses on disentangling the roles of natural selection and non-selective processes in evolution of genotypes, and on clarifying how genetic interactions shape the patterns of evolution and variation. He is particularly interested in evolution of immune system avoidance and drug resistance in pathogens, and in applications of evolutionary reasoning to medical genetics. His current major focus is genomic epidemiology of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Georgii Bazykin has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers on a wide range of subjects in molecular evolution. He has received several awards, including the Outstanding scientist of the Russian Academy of Sciences Award of the Russian Science Support Foundation (2008); the Young scientist award of the Russian Club of the European Academy (2012); and the Deripaska award for the best work by gifted young scientists of the Moscow University (2014). He is an Editorial Board Member of Biology Letters, a Review editor in Frontiers in Genetics, a Recommender in PCI Evol Biol, and an Advisory board member in F1000 Research.
At Skoltech, Prof. Bazykin pursues a research agenda directed on understanding the constraints of evolution and causes of adaptation in a wide range of biological systems; on clarifying the factors of mutagenesis in germline and in cancer; and on understanding, predicting, and preventing drug resistance and immune system avoidance mutations in pathogens. He also leads the MS Program in Life Sciences in the position of program director.
Twitter: @Gbazykin
Lab location: TPOC-3 room 311
- Prediction of Evolutionary Dynamics of Pathogens
Evolution of pathogens allows them to evade host immune system, contributing to disease and death caused by them. We are trying to predict such dynamics, notably in Influenza A, hoping to improve vaccine strain selection.
- Mutations in Germline and in Cancer
Mutations in human genome arise due to a wide range of processes. Changes in these processes, e.g. exposure to ultraviolet rays or a modification of a protein involved in handling of DNA, may lead to increase in the rate of mutations and/or change their character. We infer changes in mutagenesis from changes in the mutation rates and patterns observed in large-scale sequencing data. Ultimately, such approaches might improve understanding of heritable mutagenesis and cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Inference of Natural Selection and Genetic Interactions from Genomic Data
Mutations may be advantageous or deleterious. Whether a particular mutation harms the cell carrying it, or does it good, may be inferred from its rate of spread, which can in turn be inferred from sequencing data. Moreover, interactions between mutations shape the phenotype. We develop approaches for inference of selection forces and interactions from genetic data.
- Outstanding Scientist of the Russian Academy of Sciences Award (2008 – 2009)
- Young Scientist Award of the Russian Club of the European Academy (2012)
- Oleg Deripaska Award for the Best Work by Gifted Students and Young Scientists of the Moscow State University (2014)
- Evolutionary, Population and Medical Genomics
ФИО: Георгий Александрович Базыкин
Занимаемая должность (должности): Профессор
Преподаваемые дисциплины: Эволюционная, популяционная и медицинская геномика
Ученая степень: Ph.D (кандидат наук) в области экологии и эволюционной биологии, Университет Принстона, США, 2007 г.
Наименование направления подготовки и/или специальности: экология и эволюционная биология