
MEMBERS OF THE GROUP (Active in 2018)
Postdoctoral Researcher Sebastian Najle
Predoctoral Researcher Sílvia Chafino Aixa
Research Technicians Aleksandra Kozyczkowska, Adrià Chorro, Josefa Cruz
During 2018 there were two teams in my lab. 1) Developing genetic tools for unicellular organisms. We have advanced towards a better understanding of the genome of the unicellular eukaryotes C. limacisporum, A. whisleri and C. fragantissima while developing genetic tools such as transient and stable transfection. 2) We have published a manuscript on the role of the E93 gene, “the adult specifier” in the female neoteny of the insect X. vesparum. Silvia Chafino, a PhD student from this team, defended her PhD at the University Pompeu Fabra obtaining a qualification of Excellent Cum Laude.
Differential expression of the adult specifier E93 in the strepsipteran Xenos vesparum Rossi suggests a role in female neoteny. Chafino S., López- Escardó, D., Benelli, G., Kovac, H., Casacuberta, E., Franch-Marro, X., Kathirithamby, J. and Martín, D. 2018 Scientific Reports 8(1):14176.
Continue developing genetic tools for Marine Holozoans
Project – MMI 2017. Betty and Gordon Moore Foundation. Co-PI: Elena Casacuberta, Iñaki Ruíz-Trillo 300.000$. October 2017-September 2019.
Genòmica Funcional i Evolució. 2017 SGR 1030. Co-IP: Elena Casacuberta Suñer. 60.216 €. January 2017-December 2019.
Origen of metamorphosis: Molecular and evolutionary dissection of the metamorphic toolkit. CGL2014-55786. Plan Nacional I+D+I. Ministerio Español de Economia y Competitividad. Co-PI: Elena Casacuberta & David Martín. 180.000 €. January 2014-June 2018.
Abeoforma whisleri transfected with AwH2bVenus
Credit: Sebastian Najle