Research interests:
My research focuses on investigating the genomic mechanisms underlying the transition of vertebrates from aquatic to terrestrial habitats. A key aspect of this examination involves studying lungfishes, which are the closest extant relatives of all terrestrial vertebrates. Their key phylogenetic position is essential for comprehending the evolutionary processes leading to the emergence of tetrapods and the adaptations associated with terrestrialization in vertebrates. Lungfishes also exhibit remarkable physiological adaptations such as hypoxia tolerance, aesthivation, longevity, and regenerative capacity. Moreover, they harbor the largest known genome in the animal kingdom, surpassing the size of the human genome by 14-fold. Over the course of evolution, the lungfishes' enormous genome has experienced a progressive increase in complexity, resulting from a combination of duplication events and various other mechanisms.
For this purpose, the available genomes and tissue-specific transcriptomes of all six extant lungfish species will be utilized to identify crucial genes and gene families associated with these adaptations.
Particular emphasis will be placed on investigating the evolutionary dynamics of the globin superfamily, characterized by substantial divergence among these species, alongside related gene families. This will be accomplished through a comprehensive approach that combines bioinformatic analysis with experimental wet-lab methodologies.