Diversity and genomic evolution of the repeatome in Ceriantharia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

• Grant number: 23/17525-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Sérgio Nascimento Stampar
• Grantee: Lígia Mouriño de Almeida Prado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Repetitive elements make up a large portion of the eukaryotic genome and, for a long time, it was believed that these elements did not represent a functional part of the genome, as they were non-coding components and, therefore, would constitute a disposable part (junk DNA). However, it is now known that these elements are extremely significant when studying evolution, they are linked to important genetic changes such as the deleterious effects of transposable elements and their relation to environmental adaptations. In addition, satellites also make up an important part of genetic structures such as centromeres and heterochromatin, playing important roles in their formation and maintenance. In addition to these main components of the Repeatome (satellites and transposable elements), it also consists of retro-pseudogenes, ribosomal DNA, tRNA genes and paralogous genes. These groups are classified according to their shape, disposition (tandem repeats and interspersed repeats) and function. Genomic studies, especially in basal metazoa, are focused more on the coding portion of the genome, with few relating to the repetitive part and genomic size. Ceriantharia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa), with 54 described species, represents a group with distinct morphological characteristics such as the formation of tubes for protection and a life cycle with both benthic and planktonic stages. The goal of this project is to sequence and analyze the genome of five species from the main groups of Ceriantharia, focusing on the repetitive portion of the genome.