Ph.D. Program in Biodiversity and Evolution
MITOGENOMICS AND EVOLUTION
The PhD program focuses on Mitochondrial DNA as a molecular marker of choice
for many applications in Evolutionary Biology. The PhD student will face
the complex problem of Evolution using the “state-of-the-Art” techniques
and analyzing non-canonical and innovative model systems. Actually, unusual
model systems are likely to give significant contributions in answering
basic biological questions, since they unveil characteristics that are hidden
in standard ones.
Research line A: Characterization of Doubly Uniparental Inheritance Mitochondrial
Systems (DUI) in bivalves.The feature of some bivalves, which carry two
highly divergent mitochondrial genomes (one transmitted by father, the other
by mother), make them a unique system to test for mitochondrial genome evolution
and recombination. DUI is also a choice model to address many aspects of
interest to a wide range of biological sub-fields, such as mitochondria
inheritance, mtDNA evolution and recombination, genomic conflicts, evolution
of sex, developmental biology, etc. The PhD student will focus his research
in the molecular characterization of targeted DUI systems, in order to better
address general biological questions.
Research line B: Genomics and evolution of mitochondrial DNA in mollusks
and insects. Comparative mitochondrial genomics is becoming a powerful approach
to resolve phylogenetic relationships among distantly related taxa. Moreover,
mtDNA genes are largely used for phylogenetic reconstruction. We approach
Mollusca and Arthropoda phylogenetics by analyzing selected genes and the
whole mtDNA. The PhD student will focus his research in phylogenetic reconstruction
of targeted groups, adding to the “Tree of Life” reconstruction.
Research line C: Patterns of microevolution in stick insects. The unusual
reproductive features of stick insect (Phasmida), including parthenogenesis,
hybridogenesis and androgenesis, make them a model of choice to address
microevolutionary patterns. Actually, such tangled reproductive interactions
leads to the complex phyletic relationships known as “reticulate evolution”.
Using phasmids, the PhD student will face the complex problem of speciation.
Recent Publications
Passamonti M., Boore J. L., Scali V. (2003). Molecular evolution and recombination in gender-associated mitochondrial DNAs of the Manila clam Tapes philippinarum. Genetics 164:603-611.
Ghiselli F., Milani L., Scali V., Passamonti M. (2007). The Leptynia hispanica species complex (Insecta Phasmida): polyploidy, parthenogenesis, hybridization and more. Molecular Ecology. vol. 16 (20), pp. 4256 – 4268.
Passamonti M. (2007). An unusual case of gender-associated mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy: the mytilid Musculista senhousia (Mollusca Bivalvia). BMC Evolutionary Biology (on line). vol. 7
Ricci A., Scali V., Passamonti M. (2008). The IGS-ETS in Bacillus (Insecta Phasmida): molecular characterization and the relevance of sex in ribosomal DNA evolution. BMC Evolutionary Biology (on line). vol. 8 (278).
Passamonti M., Ghiselli F. (2009). Doubly Uniparental Inheritance: two mitochondrial genomes, one precious model for organelle DNA inheritance and evolution. Dna and Cell Biology. vol. 28 (2), pp. 79 - 89.
Research Group
Marco Passamonti (Research Associate)
Valerio Scali (Full Professor - retired)
Fabrizio Ghiselli (PhD student)
Liliana Milani (PhD student)
Federico Plazzi (PhD Student)
Location
Department of Biologia Evoluzionistica Sperimentale
V. Selmi, 3 - 40126 Bologna
