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hans ellegren

"We'll soon be able to combine this information with data at molecular level. And then, who knows? Perhaps we'll be able to identify exactly which genes make the flycatcher a... flycatcher!"

Subject tags for this article: genetics, evolution, Carl Linnaeus, biology, DNA, birds,

Born: 1962
Doctorate in Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 1993
Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the Department of Evolution, Genomics and Systematics, Uppsala University

Interview by Eva Krutmeijer

Young, internationally successful biologist at Uppsala University, with a special interest in the interdependence of all living things, obsessed with trying to unravel the great mysteries of life... This could be a description of Carl Linnaeus back in the 18th century. Or Hans Ellegren today. But Hans Ellegren laughs at the comparison.

"Linnaeus was a giant. He's been enormously important for biology, not least for the man in the street. Everybody's heard of Linnaeus. Look in any flower reference work and you'll find his name."

What does Linnaeus mean for biologists today? What does he mean to you?

"For me Linnaeus represents an important approach, the attempt to understand. Systematising and categorising are sound approaches which aren't valued so highly today."

Could it be this urge to understand that motivates your own work?

"Well, that's probably the case for all scientists. The beauty of basic research is that you can dig deeper and deeper into your subject and get a little closer to the great unsolved mysteries."

Have you always wanted to do research?

"I've always spent a lot of time in the countryside. Roamed about in the forests, bird- watching. At school I was an active member of a natural science club and met other youngsters interested in biology. But it was always ‘green' issues out in the field that interested me. I rather surprised myself by ending up in genetics and molecular biology - ‘white' biology in the lab. But I've not regretted it for a moment."

And then the successes came?

"It's when you combine the green and the white that biology gets most interesting. With our biological tools today we can approach classic biological problems from new angles."

Give an example of something interesting you're involved in just now, when we're celebrating Linnaeus' birth.

"Well, we're part of a project which is mapping the flycatcher's DNA. Its behaviour has already been studied in great detail, for example its mating strategies. We'll soon be able to combine this information with data at molecular level. And then, who knows? Perhaps we'll be able to identify exactly which genes make the flycatcher a… flycatcher!"