PhD programme in Biodiversity and Evolution : Phylogeny and Molecular Evolution in animals
Research line A: Taxonomy, phylogeny, systematics and population genetics in arthropods. Animals are usually thought as bisexual panmictic reproducing organisms, but many alternative reproductive strategies exist (hermaphroditism, parthenogenesis, eusociality, etc.). Main goal is to highlight the impact that non-canonical reproduction has on genetic variability levels and trends and therefore its impact on taxonomy and phylogeny. Data from both mitochondrial (CO II, CO I, 12S, 16S, AT- rich) and nuclear compartments (ITS) are analyzed in the light of the different hypothesis which have been put forward to explain the wider occurrence of gonochorism despite its higher costs (i.e. the Fisher-Muller hypothesis: sex accelerate evolution; the Muller’s ratchet: sex is a way to get rid of deleterious mutations; the Red Queen hypothesis: sex is needed to stay in coevolutionary race with biological enemies).
Research line B: Genomic dynamics and evolution of repetitive sequences in arthropods and molluscs. Notwithstanding the recent advances in genome-wide, high throughput technologies, the comprehension of genome function/evolution especially in gene-depleted portions highly enriched in repetitive sequences remains poor and limited even if these domains have been recently shown to play genomic fundamental roles both for structural (f.e. satellite DNA in centromeres and telomeres) and evolutionary (f.e. mobile elements) aspects. We focus on satellite DNA and mobile elements (mainly Non-LTR and SINE retrotransposons) dynamics and evolution in both non canonical and bisexually reproducing mating systems.
Methodology: Basic molecular techniques such as DNA isolation, PCR amplification, cloning, sequencing, Southern blotting. Bioinformatic analyses through most updated softwares.
Model animals:
- Crustacea Branchiopoda Notostraca and Conchostraca (clam shrimps; A, B)
- Insecta Isoptera (termites; A, B)
- Insecta Siphonaptera (fleas; A)
- Insecta Phasmida (stick-insects; B)
- Mollusca Bivalvia (bivalvs; B)
Research Group
Barbara Mantovani (Professor of Zoology)
Franca Scanabissi (Associate professor of Zoology)
Andrea Luchetti (Research fellowship)
Alessandro Velona' (PhD student)
Valentina Mingazzini (PhD student)
Marco Ricci (PhD student)
