Experimental Evolution Unit

A unique facility for experimental evolution under controlled conditions

The Experimental Evolution Unit is the first research infrastructure of its kind in Portugal, dedicated to real-time studies of evolutionary processes under controlled environmental conditions. Located at Ciências ULisboa and managed by researchers from CE3C – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, the Unit enhances national and international capacity to investigate the mechanisms and dynamics of evolution.

Covering 400 m², the Unit is equipped with four laboratories, eight climatic chambers, and specialised support areas. These facilities provide the ideal setting for experimental evolution using model organisms, enabling researchers to conduct real-time studies of evolutionary processes. This allows them to explore how populations adapt across generations and investigate the genetic basis of traits such as defence against pathogens.

What makes this Unit unique is our ability to carry out large-scale experiments (…) we can therefore bring together ecological complexity and experimental evolution.

Sara Magalhães

This infrastructure plays a crucial role in advancing our understanding of how biodiversity responds to environmental change, including pressures such as climate shifts, habitat transformation, and emerging diseases. It supports fundamental research in eco-evolutionary dynamics, with potential long-term applications in agriculture, health, conservation, and biotechnology.

As a pioneering facility in the Iberian Peninsula, the Unit fosters international collaborations, attracts early-career researchers, and strengthens Portugal’s presence in the global field of experimental evolutionary biology.