What’s New
- 2026.9.15 4 new presentations have been added to the Presentations page.
- 2026.8.20 4 new presentations have been added to the Presentations page.
- 2026.7.16 2 new presentations have been added to the Presentations page.
- 2026.7.1 The website has been redesigned with a color scheme that considers universal design.
Visualizing the Wonder of Diversity
The diversity of life cannot be captured by the number of species or genes alone. Organisms change over time as they interact with their environment and with other organisms.
The Obayashi Laboratory connects genomic and environmental observation data through information science to decode the differences and connections among living things. We currently focus mainly on marine ecosystems, from coastal waters to the open ocean.
Discover
Through genomic analysis and field observation, we uncover organisms and phenomena that have previously gone unseen.
Decode
We analyze the functions, states, and environmental responses of organisms to reveal the mechanisms that drive changes in biological communities.
Share
Through databases, visualization, and AI, we turn the significance and appeal of diversity into knowledge that people can understand and apply.
Basic Research
Marine Ecosystem Dynamics
The oceans, which cover about 70% of the Earth's surface, form a complex ecosystem inhabited by diverse life forms, from microorganisms to whales. We humans receive immense direct and indirect benefits from these seas, making the understanding and management of the marine environment an extremely important issue. Inaugurated in 2024 as a world-class research initiative, the Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC) is on a mission to explore the response and adaptation mechanisms of marine ecosystems to changes in the Earth's system, through an international and interdisciplinary research team. In particular, the Obayashi Unit in WPI-AIMEC, in collaboration with the Onagawa Field Center, aims to comprehensively elucidate the biological dynamics of Onagawa Bay through the analysis of physicochemical data and plankton genome analysis based on long-read sequencing. Furthermore, using Onagawa Bay as a model case, the unit strives to elucidate the marine dynamics of the Sanriku coast, ultimately contributing to environmental conservation on a global scale.
Basic Research
Systems Genomics
Complex systems are composed of combinations of simpler elements. In living systems, tens of thousands of genes are elaborately combined to form cellular systems, and different types of cells are combined to form tissues, organs, and individual systems. The genome, which consists of the four letters of ACGT, is the encoded multilevel system that makes up a given species. Correctly deciphering it reveals both the unique characteristics and potential vulnerabilities of the system. In particular, gene expression data (transcriptome data) is a fundamental resource that reflects the relationship between genes and cells. We extract information from this data using the approach of gene expression and co-expression and make it available as a database.
Applied Research
We aim to solve social issues by applying the technologies and resources developed through our basic research themes.
Bioenergy production
Photosynthesis is a reaction that uses light energy to fix carbon dioxide and attracts significant attention as a form of renewable energy. This research aims to produce bioenergy from microalgae by enhancing their lipid metabolism system and improving their culture efficiency.
Resource management
As an island nation, Japan has long utilized many fishery resources. In recent years, global demand for fishery resources has increased, and the sustainability of the fishing industry has become more critical than ever. Fish stock enhancement, famous for the release of salmon, enhances fishery resources by artificially hatching, growing, and releasing juveniles of fish. This practice is conducted in more than 40 countries, including Japan. On the other hand, it is not well understood whether the released fish are only caught or contribute to further reproduction in nature. In this study, we estimate the kinship relationship between released and natural individuals to understand the fisheries resource dynamics under the fish stock enhancement program.
Members
TAKESHIOBAYASHI
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Technical Assistant
Akane KITAMURA
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Secretary
Aiko NAGATA
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M2
Daffa A. APRILIO
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M2
Jaronchai DILOKKALAYAKUL
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M2
Namuunbayar GANCHIMEG
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M2
Naoki SUGIMURA
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M1
Hayate KATO
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M1
Sota HAYASHIHARA
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M1
Mizuki TANIKAWA
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M1
Yunhan SHEN
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B4
Akira TSUCHI
TAKESHIOBAYASHI
Access
Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University 6-3-09, Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, JapanOur laboratory is on the 2nd floor of the Graduate School of Information Science building.
