Markus Pfenninger

Markus Pfenninger is a Professor and Principal Investigator at the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research in Frankfurt, Germany, leading the Functional Environmental Genomics group. His work addresses critical gaps in ecotoxicology by developing genomic methods to measure germ cell mutation rates in multicellular eukaryotes, challenging the reliance on prokaryotic models for human risk assessment.

Research focuses on:

• Environmental genomics and mutation rate analysis using Chironomus riparius as a model organism
• Population genomics of adaptation to pollutants (cadmium, microplastics, urban sediments)
• Genome assembly for non-model organisms and climate change genomics
• Development of ISO-standardized mutagenicity assessment frameworks

Analysis of 150+ recent publications reveals dominant themes in anthropogenic pollutant effects, with 2023-2025 work emphasizing multigenerational genomic responses to complex stressors. Key innovations include genome-wide screening for mutation rate quantification and establishing Chironomus riparius as a model for ecotoxicological genomics, demonstrating higher sensitivity than conventional tests.

The Functional Environmental Genomics group includes Dr. Halina Binde-Doria (Postdoc) and collaborates with Jun.-Prof. Dr. Ann-Marie Waldvogel. Based at Senckenberganlage 25 in Frankfurt, the team employs NGS techniques for reference genome construction, population re-sequencing, and RNA-seq analyses within ecological and evolutionary experimental frameworks.