Thomas Hankeln

Extraordinary biological adaptations (“animal superpowers”) have the potential to advance human well-being. For example, blind mole rats (Spalax sp.) are adapted to withstand a severe lack of oxygen (hypoxia). They are also resistant to tumour formation, have an unusually long lifespan and show no signs of deterioration with age (> 20 years). To understand the molecular basis of the Spalax phenotypes, we teamed up with cooperating partners to sequence and annotate the Spalax genome (Fang et al., 2014), and showed via extensive transcriptome studies that differential gene regulation across many organs of Spalax affects longevity- and cancer-related genes (Malik et al., 2012; Schmidt et al., 2017; Poetzsch et al., 2025). We also demonstrated that particular mutations in Spalax genes (e.g. master transcription factors) can potentially explain the differences in gene expression between Spalax and other short-lived and cancer-prone rodents, like the rat (Avivi et al., 2010; Schmidt et al., 2016; Schülke et al., 2012). Currently, we are working on understanding the evolutionary adaptive forces that shaped divergent gene regulation in Spalax. We focus on cis- and trans-acting elements, including gene promoters, enhancers, transcription factors and microRNAs.

Research website

Positions held

• Since 2001: Professor of Molecular Genetics, Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Mainz
• 1994 - 2001: Working Group Leader, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Mainz
• 1990 - 1993: Postdoc, Institute of Genetics, Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Mainz

Education

• 1990: PhD, Ruhr University Bochum
• 1985: Diploma in Biology, Ruhr University Bochum