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Benedicte Garmann-Aarhus

Doctoral Research fellow - Sex and Evolution Research Group

Email benedicte.garmann-aarhus@nhm.uio.no

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Visiting address Natural History Museum Sars gate 1 0562 Oslo

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Academic interests

Benedicte is an evolutionary biologist with a great interest in genomics. After finishing her master's, where she made the first chromosome level whole-genome assemblies of the species pair the European river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), she went on to work for the Norwegian branch of one of the world's largest reference genome initiatives, the Earth Biogenome Project. Here, she worked as a bioinformatician, and in addition to creating whole-genome assemblies for a range of different species, she held workshops about the assembly and curation process. Benedicte is also passionate about science communication. She is the course coordinator for the largest science communication course at the University of Oslo (MNKOM3000/4000), where she teaches bachelor and master students from all STEM-fields how to communicate their work to a broad audience, through popular science articles, podcasts, debates, infographics, and stage shows. In addition to this, she has also written a childrens book, "Verdens rareste dyr" ("The worlds strangest animals"), about how the strangest animals are sometimes the ones with the most exciting evolutionary secrets. As a PhD student in the SERG group, she is currently working on the ICEFISH project, where she will explore the role of gene flow in the adaptive radiation of Antarctic icefishes.

Background

University of Oslo, Norway | Since 2023
Course coordinator for MNKOM3000/4000 at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Kagge Publishing, Norway | Since 2022
Author

University of Oslo, Norway | 2022-2023
Department engineer at the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, for Earth Biogenome Project Norway

Education

University of Oslo, Norway | Since 2023
PhD thesis at the Natural History Museum

University of Oslo, Norway | 2020-2022
Master studies in Bioscience, Ecology and Evolution

University of Oslo, Norway | 2018-2020
Bachelor studies in Bioscience

Baalsrud, Helle Tessand; Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte; Enevoldsen, Emily Louise Gilbert; Krabberød, Anders Kristian; Dominik, Fischer, & Tooming-Klunderud, Ave [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2026). Centromeric satellite expansion drives genome evolution in the snowy owl. Genome Biology. ISSN 1474-7596. doi: 10.1186/s13059-026-04175-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Comparative genomic studies in birds have revealed that bird genomes are relatively repeat-poor and stable in terms of karyotype, size, and gene synteny/collinearity compared to other vertebrates. One notable exception is the owls, with cytogenetic studies demonstrating large variations in karyotypes and the evolution of unusual centromeric satellite repeats in some species. However, there has so far not been an investigation into genome architecture and repeat landscape of owls. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly for the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus). We find that the repeat DNA content in the relatively large snowy owl genome (1.6 Gb) is among the highest reported for any bird genome to date (28.34% compared to an average of ~ 10% in other birds). The bulk of the snowy owl genomic repeat landscape consists of extensive centromeric satellite arrays that form large contiguous blocks across multiple chromosomes. These arrays represent one of the largest centromeric satellite expansions reported in birds and are consistent with rapid turnover and amplification of centromeric repeats. Using gene collinearity analyses we show that the position of the centromeres are not homologous with chicken centromeres, and are located in regions with collinearity breaks to other bird genomes due to chromosomal rearrangements. Our results support rapid satellite turnover at lineage-specific centromeres, which could have played a role in centromeric drive, reproductive isolation and speciation of the snowy owl. The extensive centromeric satellite arrays uncovered in this genome highlight centromere evolution as a potentially important driver of genome evolution in owls.
Tørresen, Ole Kristian; Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte; Hoff, Siv Nam Khang; Jentoft, Sissel; Svensson, Mikael & Schartum, Eivind Sandvik [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). Comparison of whole-genome assemblies of European river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri). Journal of Heredity. ISSN 0022-1503. 117, p. 96–106. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esaf036. Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte; Nikolaeva, Ekaterina; Desvignes, Thomas; Straube, Nicolas & Matschiner, Michael (2025). Museomic analyses clarify species diversity in the icefish genus Channichthys. Polar Biology. ISSN 0722-4060. 48(1). doi: 10.1007/s00300-025-03349-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The rapid diversification of notothenioid fishes in Antarctic waters is a prime example of the process of adaptive radiation. Within around 10 million years, Antarctic notothenioids have diversified into over 100 species with a broad range of lifestyles and ecological adaptations. However, the exact number of species within this radiation has long been unclear. Particularly challenging is the taxonomy of the genus Channichthys, for which between one and nine species have been recognized by different authors. The putative species of this genus are known from a limited number of specimens, of which most were sampled decades ago. Here, we investigated the mitochondrial genomes of museum specimens representing the four species Unicorn Icefish (C. rhinoceratus), Red Icefish (C. rugosus), Sailfish Pike (C. velifer), and Charcoal Icefish (C. panticapaei), complemented by morphological analyses. All analyzed specimens were collected in the 1960s and 1970s and fixed in formaldehyde, and their DNA has been heavily degraded. Applying ancient-DNA protocols for DNA extraction and single-stranded library preparation, we were able to obtain sufficient endogenous DNA to reconstruct the mitochondrial genomes of one specimen per species. These mitochondrial genome sequences were nearly identical for the three specimens assigned to Unicorn Icefish, Red Icefish, and Sailfish Pike, while greater divergence was observed for the Charcoal Icefish specimens. We discuss possible explanations of the contrast between these molecular results and the recognizable morphological variation found among the four species, and recommend that at least the Charcoal Icefish be included in the list of valid notothenioid species.
Baalsrud, Helle Tessand; Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte; Enevoldsen, Emily Louise Gilbert; Krabberød, Anders Kristian; Fischer, Dominik & Tooming-Klunderud, Ave [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2024). Evolutionary new centromeres in the snowy owl genome putatively seeded from a transposable element. BioRxiv. ISSN 0362-4331. doi: 10.1101/2024.07.05.602039. Full text in Research Archive
Tørresen, Ole K.; Kersten, Oliver Sven; Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte; Helberg, Morten; Tooming-Klunderud, Ave & Skage, Morten [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). A chromosome-level genome assembly of the common eider, Somateria mollissima (Linnaeus, 1758). Journal of Heredity. ISSN 0022-1503. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esae042. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The common eider, Somateria mollissima mollissima (Chordata; Aves; Anseriformes; Anatidae), is a large sea duck with a circumpolar distribution. We here describe a chromosome-level genome assembly from an individual female. The haplotype-resolved assembly contains one pseudo-haplotype spanning 1,205 megabases (with both Z and W sex chromosomes) and one pseudo-haplotype spanning 1,080 megabases. Most of these two assemblies (91.13% and 93.18%, respectively) are scaffolded into 32 autosomal chromosomal pseudomolecules plus Z and W for pseudo-haplotype one. The BUSCO completeness scores are 94.0% and 89.9%, respectively, and gene annotations of the assemblies identified 17,479 and 16,315 protein coding genes. Annotation of repetitive sequences classify 17.84% and 14.62% of pseudo-haplotype one and two, respectively, as repeats. The genome of the common eider will be a useful resource for the widely distributed northern species in light of climate change and anthropogenic threats.
Dussex, Nicolas; Tørresen, Ole Kristian; Valk, Tom van der; Moullec, Mathilde Le; Veiberg, Vebjørn & Tooming-Klunderud, Ave [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2023). Adaptation to the High-Arctic island environment despite long-term reduced genetic variation in Svalbard reindeer. iScience. 26(10). doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107811. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Typically much smaller in number than their mainland counterparts, island populations are ideal systems to investigate genetic threats to small populations. The Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) is an endemic subspecies that colonized the Svalbard archipelago ca. 6,000–8,000 years ago and now shows numerous physiological and morphological adaptations to its arctic habitat. Here, we report a de-novo chromosome-level assembly for Svalbard reindeer and analyze 133 reindeer genomes spanning Svalbard and most of the species’ Holarctic range, to examine the genomic consequences of long-term isolation and small population size in this insular subspecies. Empirical data, demographic reconstructions, and forward simulations show that long-term isolation and high inbreeding levels may have facilitated the reduction of highly deleterious—and to a lesser extent, moderately deleterious—variation. Our study indicates that long-term reduced genetic diversity did not preclude local adaptation to the High Arctic, suggesting that even severely bottlenecked populations can retain evolutionary potential.

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Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte (2023). Verdens rareste dyr. Kagge Forlag AS. ISBN 9788248932925. 144 p. Full text in Research Archive

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Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte; Nikolaeva, Ekaterina; Desvignes, Thomas; Straube, Nicolas & Matschiner, Michael (2024). Museomics informs about species diversity within the adaptive radiation of Antarctic notothenioid fishes. Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte (2023). Yrket mitt: Benedicte (29) er evolusjonærbiolog. [Internet]. Framtida. Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte (2023). P1 Rogaland. [Radio]. NRK Rogaland. Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte (2023). #139 - Helsvart høne, barn med seg selv, og maur som vektere. [Internet]. Jøss‽. Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte (2023). #138 - Kontaktløs sex i kjellern, daske torsk med fortann, og klokka på Oslo S går alltid feil. [Internet]. Jøss‽. Full text in Research Archive
Skogvoll, Vidar; Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte; Røyne, Anja & Bråthen, Ole Markus (2023). Real læring - ChatGPT: Fagformidling med robothjelp. [Radio]. Podcast. Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte (2023). Hvordan kan man bruke referansegenomer for å bevare fuglene i Norge? Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte (2023). Nitimen. [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte (2023). Sørlandssendinga. [Radio]. NRK Sørlandet. Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte (2023). ChatGPT - Ep5: Formidling med robothjelp. [Internet]. Real Læring, KURT, UiO. Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Johnsen, Benedicte (2022). Bioinformatics in novel research (Benedicte Garmann-Johnsen from the Earth BioGenome Project). Full text in Research Archive
Garmann-Johnsen, Benedicte (2022). Hvorfor niøyen er med i Earth BioGenome Project Norge. Full text in Research Archive

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Published July 10, 2023 1:23 PM - Last modified May 22, 2025 11:12 AM

Benedicte Garmann-Aarhus

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