A central question in Evolutionary Biology is how differences in gene repertoire impact the morphological and physiological diversity of animal species. To tackle this issue, we must consider issues such as gene numbers, orthology assignment, patterns of gene loss, the contribution of gene duplication and the interplay of these genomic events with environmental settings (adaptation). The central long-term objective of the Animal Genetics and Evolution team (AGE) is to elucidate and comprehend the evolution of complex traits and gene networks in Metazoans and their impact on animal physiology, in particular in the context of the Anthropocene Epoch.
The ”Omics” Era exemplified by the extraordinary number of full genome projects currently available, offers a unique and timely opportunity to investigate and to understand the basis of animal physiological diversity. The team has been investigating the impact of life history trajectories in the context of genomic processes affecting gene repertoire (gene loss and duplication). By combining comparative and functional genomics, we are carrying out an extensive characterization of the repertoire of fatty acid biosynthetic genes (desaturases and elongases) and nuclear receptors in species representing key informative phyla (e.g. sponges, bryozoans, annelids, molluscs, cephalochordates, and vertebrates) to address the evolution of lipid physiology and endocrine function in Metazoans, especially in the context of the Anthropocene.
Filipe Castro is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto and PI of the team in Animal Genetics and Evolution. Among the group’s various research focuses are Comparative Genomics, Physiology and Evolution, Bioinformatics and the Anthropocene.
Mónica Lopes-Marques holds a double diploma, the first degree in Biology/Geology (2005) second degree Genetics/Biotechnology (2008), and a Master’s degree in Comparative Genetics (2011). In 2017 she completed her PhD in Biomedical Sciences (2017). She has participated in several international research projects and is experienced in Project management and Data Management for EUProjects.
Currently, she is a an FCT Researcher at CIIMAR (2022.00397.CEECIND), and her research focuses on Aquatic mammals and metabolic adaptations. She aims to understand the correlation between molecular evolution and phenotypic adaptation and use this knowledge to assess the true impact of environmental stressors on aquatic mammals.
Having graduated in Biochemistry from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) and the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), I am currently in the second year of my Master’s degree in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at FCUP. During this academic year, I will be conducting my dissertation with the Animal Genetics and Evolution group, aiming to develop a user-friendly bioinformatic tool for transcriptomic data analysis.
Diogo Oliveira completed his Master degree in Biochemistry in 2017, in the University of Porto, doing work centred on the evolution of cobalamin metabolism in vertebrates. He is currently a PhD student at CIIMAR, with research focused on the evolution of xenobiotic metabolism in Cetacea.
Elza Fonseca is a Researcher at CIIMAR. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry (2010) and a MSc in Bioengineering (2013) from the University of Minho, and a PhD in Biology (2020) awarded by the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto. Her research interests focus on Molecular & Cellular Biology, Comparative & Functional Genomics, and Evolutionary Biology. She is particularly interested in studying nuclear receptors as one of the largest superfamilies of transcription factors unique to metazoans and responsible for regulating biological processes such as cell differentiation, development, metabolism, and reproduction.
Inês Amorim is an Environmental Health graduate (2023) from the Superior Health School of the Polytechnic of Porto (E2S.IPP) and is currently an
Environmental Toxicology and Contamination MSc student at School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of University of Porto (ICBAS.UP) and Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP). This year she will be developing her dissertation focused on the analysis of biotransformation genes in Pinnipeds.
J. Miguel Cordeiro (PhD) has obtained his Licence in Biology (Aveiro (PT)) in 1998; he then took a Master’s degree in Cell Biology (Coimbra (PT)) in 2004 and a PhD in Biology (Aveiro (PT) / Genève (CH)) in 2008. He is now a researcher at CIIMAR in the field of neurobiology dedicated at studying new regulatory mechanisms of fast neurosecretion and on discovering new bioactive compounds effective against several neurological diseases tested in pre-clinical models (Torpedo marmorata and Danio rerio) of disease (Epilepsy, Parkinson’s; Alzheimer’s and Neuromuscular diseases).
I am a postdoctoral researcher at CIIMAR. I am a biologist, and hold my M.Sc. in Marine Science and Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries at the University of Porto (2012) and my Ph.D. in Aquaculture at the University of Vigo (2016). During my Ph.D., my studies were oriented toward the diversification of species of interest for aquaculture. I am currently applying genetic tools to explain key aspects of the feeding strategy and diet composition in fish and cephalopods in aquaculture.
Mónica Lopes-Marques holds a double diploma, the first degree in Biology/Geology (2005) second degree Genetics/Biotechnology (2008), and a Master’s degree in Comparative Genetics (2011). In 2017 she completed her PhD in Biomedical Sciences (2017). She has participated in several international research projects and is experienced in Project management and Data Management for EUProjects.
Currently, she is a an FCT Researcher at CIIMAR (2022.00397.CEECIND), and her research focuses on Aquatic mammals and metabolic adaptations. She aims to understand the correlation between molecular evolution and phenotypic adaptation and use this knowledge to assess the true impact of environmental stressors on aquatic mammals.
My name is Nádia Silva and I graduated in Biology from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP).At the moment, i’m doing a master’s degree in Marine Sciences – Marine Resources at ICBAS, and i’m currently working on a thesis in the Animal Genetics and Evolution (AGE) group. My main interests are genetics, evolution, ecology and conservation.
Rui Pinto received his Biology degree in 2016 and his MSc in Biodiversity, genetics and evolution in 2018 from University of Porto. In 2020, he was awarded with a mixed FCT PhD scholarship to perform large-scale comparative genomics with the goal of understanding the molecular bases of avian dietary specializations. The work will be developed between CIIMAR and the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (University of Copenhagen). He is interested in the interaction between genetics, evolution and ecology.
Fonseca E., Ruivo R., Lopes-Marques M., Zhang H., Santos M.M., Venkatesh B., Castro L.F.
2017Genome Biology and Evolution, 9(1):222-230Cruzeiro C., Lopes-Marques M., Ruivo R., Rodrigues-Oliveira N., Santos M.M., Rocha M.J., Rocha E., Castro L.F.
2016Aquatic Toxicology, 174: 61-9Monroig Ó., Lopes-Marques M., Navarro J.C., Hontoria F., Ruivo R., Santos M.M., Venkatesh B., Tocher D.R., Castro L.F.
2016. Scientific Reports, 6: 20510.Castro L.F., Tocher D.R., Monroig O.
2016Progress in Lipid Research, 62: 25-40Castro L.F.C., Santos M.M.
2014Environmental Science and Technology, 48(10): 5361-5363
