PD Dr. Oliver Voigt
Scientist and habilitated lecturer
Research Interests
I am interested in the evolution and biodiversity of non-bilaterian animals and use genomic and transcriptomic tools to understand their morphological evolution. In particular, I study the genetic mechanisms that control the formation of their skeletal elements and how these biomineralization processes evolved.
Expression of biomineralization genes differs among the six sclerocyte cells that form a single calcite spicule.
The three central sclerocytes express Spiculin (yellow), whereas the remaining sclerocytes that promote spicule elongation express Calcarin1 (magenta) (fluorescent RNA in situ hybridization). | © Oliver Voigt
Evolution and mechanisms of biomineralization
Many animals build hard skeletons by precisely depositing minerals, a process known as biomineralization. In my research on the evolution and mechanisms of biomineralization, I use calcareous sponges as model organisms to identify the genes and cellular processes that control the formation of these mineral structures and to investigate how biomineralization has independently evolved and diversified across animal lineages.
Voigt O, Wilde MV, Fröhlich T, Fradusco B, Vargas S, Wörheide G (2025): Genetic parallels in biomineralization of the calcareous sponge Sycon ciliatum and stony corals. eLife 14:RP106239. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.106239.3
Voigt O, Fradusco B, Gut C, Kevrekidis C, Vargas S, Wörheide G (2021): Carbonic anhydrases: An ancient tool in calcareous sponge biomineralization. Frontiers in Genetics 12:383. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.624533
Voigt O, Adamska M, Adamsiki M, Kittelmann A, Wencker L, Wörheide G (2017): Spicule formation in calcareous sponges: Coordinated expression of biomineralization genes and spicule-type specific genes. Scientific Reports 7:45658. doi: 10.1038/srep45658
Calcareous sponges with contrasting simple and complex morphologies. | © Oliver Voigt
Evolution and biodiversity of calcareous sponges
The evolution and biodiversity of early-branching (non-bilaterian) animals remain poorly understood. In my research, I use molecular data – from single genes to whole genomes – to investigate the morphological evolution of calcareous sponges, belonging to one of the earliest-diverging animal phyla. By integrating phylogenomics and reconstructing the evolution of morphological traits, I test hypotheses about the origin, loss and repeated evolution of simple and more complex body organisations. This work revises the taxonomy of calcareous sponges and documents their hidden biodiversity, providing a modern evolutionary framework and reference for future studies.
Running project(s):
- Taxophylogeny of calcareous sponges (TAXOCALC) (DFG, 2026 – 2029)
Voigt O, Ruthensteiner B, Leiva L, Fradusco B, Wörheide G (2018): A new species of the calcareous sponge genus Leuclathrina (Calcarea: Calcinea: Clathrinida) from the Maldives. Zootaxa 4382 (1), 147–158. Full text
Voigt O, Erpenbeck D, González-Pech RA, Al-Aidaroos AM, Berumen ML, Wörheide G (2017): Calcinea of the Red Sea: providing a DNA barcode inventory with description of four new species. Marine Biodiversity , 47,1009-1034. Full text
Voigt O, Wörheide G (2016): A short LSU rRNA fragment as a standard marker for integrative taxonomy in calcareous sponges (Porifera: Calcarea). Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 16: 53-64. Full text