The Panomics and Evolutionary Systems Microbiology group, located at the I2SysBio, main research interest lies in understanding the molecular mechanisms of functional innovation at different levels and contexts. The evolution of novel functions is paramount to the emergence of biological complexity and ecological diversification. Understanding how innovation is generated and in which contexts, is not only interesting from a basic science point of view but potentially extremely valuable in relation to health, biotechnology and agriculture. We combine theoretical and experimental research in a multidiscipline way. In the theoretical part we look for adaptive signatures left in the genomes over millions of years, and create software where necessary. In the experimental part of our research we evolve microorganisms to observe evolution in the act.