Lucas Benites Doretto

I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from the State University of Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP, Botucatu Campus 2015) and earned a Master's degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis on Genetics from the same institution (2018). My academic career has been focused on molecular biology, particularly on the identification and characterization of molecular markers for spermatogonial stem cells, as well as on investigating the endocrine and paracrine regulation of the spermatogonial niche and spermatogenesis in teleost fish, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an experimental model.Currently, I am leading a project titled Identification of possible co-option of cis-regulatory male sequence in the sex determination of medaka species, which aims to unravel the genetic mechanisms underlying sex determination in the model species Oryzias. In this study, I investigate potential male-specific cis-regulatory elements that modulate the expression of sex-determining genes during the critical period of sex determination, and I assess whether the subsequent pathway of sexual determination and differentiation is conserved within the genus Oryzias.By exploring the role of specific male sequences in regulating sex-determining genes, my work seeks to elucidate the fundamental regulatory networks governing sex determination. The insights gained from this research could provide valuable contributions to our understanding of evolutionary processes and genetic variation in aquatic organisms, directly impacting aquaculture practices. Ultimately, the knowledge generated will support strategies for manipulating sex ratios, optimizing production efficiency, and guiding breeding programs aimed at conserving genetic diversity and ensuring the population viability of wild, economically important, and native species from Brazil and the Global South. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)