Vertebrate Cytogenomics: state of the art and future challenges.

• Grant number: 24/16433-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: January 17, 2025
• End date: January 26, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo de Bello Cioffi
• Grantee: Marcelo de Bello Cioffi
• Visiting researcher: Vladimir Trifonov
• Visiting researcher institution: Institute Of Animal Physiology And Genetics Of The Czech Academy Of Sciences, Libechov/Iapg, Czech Republic
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

There has been a resurgence in the field of Cytogenetics by recent studies employing cutting-edge cytogenetic and modern genomic tools on a variety of organisms; the so-called Cytogenomic field. Although there are some laboratories of excellence in Brazil dedicated to the study of cytogenetics, almost none of them focus on all Vertebrate groups nowadays. We now represent one of the few laboratories in Brazil dedicated to the study of several Vertebrate species, applying high throughput sequencing techniques (cutting-edge technology that revolutionized this research area). The Visiting Professor Vladimir Trifonov is one of the leading scientists in Vertebrate genome evolution and Comparative Genomics, working in a broad range of Vertebrate models, particularly Reptiles and Mammals, with relevant publications in prestigious journals like Nature Reviews Genetics, Genome Biology, Nature Ecology and Evolution, among others. Dr. Trifonov used to hold a position as an associate professor on the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS (Novosibirsk, Russia), but since 2023 he left the country and holds now a position as Permanent Researcher in the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics CAS (Czech Republic). Dr. Trifonov´s visit to the Laboratory of Evolutionary Cytogenetic (LEC) at the UFSCar would provide a unique opportunity to enhance this research topic (Vertebrate Cytogenomics). Besides the research activities in collaboration with the ongoing projects on the LEC, he will participate in the 2nd edition of a Workshop on the Evolution of Sex Chromosomes I will organize. The first initiative was realized in April 2024: The 1st Workshop on the Evolution of Sex Chromosomes. The event occurred at the visit of Prof. Tariq Ezaz (Canberra University, Australia, FAPESP 23/15516-4) and included 70 researchers and students from 6 different research groups (UFSCar, Unesp-Bauru; Unesp-Botucatu; CAUNESP-Jaboticabal, UNICAMP and UFPA). In addition to the lectures, project, and protocol discussions, there were round tables where students could present and discuss their work linked to their dissertations, theses, and IC projects. This time, we will expand the invitation for the research group of UNESP-Rio Claro and USP-SP. Besides, he will share and teach unique expertise in Vertebrate cell culture and perform several conversations with students, which would be a unique opportunity to share experiences and generate synergies. (AU)