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I study molecular and genome evolution through a naturalist's eyes.

My main research topic so far has been mitochondrial biology and evolution, in particular mitochondrial inheritance, heteroplasmy, and mito-nuclear coevolution. The animal model of choice is bivalve molluscs, because of their unique features.

With time I realized that, in order to unveil the molecular basis of complex phenotypes and their evolution, it is necessary to sequence, study, and characterize genomes and their genetic diversity. I started working on comparative genomics (mostly of molluscs and ants), focusing on the variations in genome content and in genome structure.

In general, I am very interested in the evolutionary dynamics of conflicts and cooperation, and in the role of multilevel selection in the evolution of complex systems.

...See now how mitochondria and ants make sense here?

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Evolutionary biologist and zoologist at the University of Bologna. I started working on the evolution of centromeric repeated DNA in stick insects but rapidly moved to molecular phylogenetics and transposable elements evolution in insects and crustaceans. Presently, my main research interest concerns the study of molecular phylogenetics and phylogenomics, and evolutionary genomics in arthropods (crustaceans and insects) and in mollusks (mainly bivalves). More in particular, my research lines aim to understand the evolution of animal biodiversity (at species level or above) and of the evolution of characters (morphological and molecular) that characterize the different animal taxa. In these research lines, I have several collaborations with national and international research groups. 

At present, my main research projects concern: 

• Biodiversity genomics and molecular phylogenetics in insects (mainly termites, stick insects, and ants). 

• Evolutionary genomics in branchiopod crustaceans, with emphasis on morphological stasis, and in bivalve mollusks. 

• Evolution of genomes in parthenogenetic arthropods. 

For more Academic details and the full list of publications, check my personal website on Unibo:

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My research interests are mainly focused on germline specification and differentiation, and on the mechanisms of evolution and inheritance of mitochondria. 

Germline and mitochondrial inheritance are strictly linked, since the study of gamete formation is fundamental to understand which mitochondria are transmitted across generations. To do this, we use comparative approaches ranging from genomics to protein expression patterns in cells and tissues, to morphology, with particular attention to new animal model systems. 

As member of the National Biodiversity Future Center (PNRR), I would like to understand how animal longevity can evolve and how environment and lineage historical background can influence this complex phenotype. Also, the germline is a fundamental cell lineage for species maintenance and the study of its efficient development is of great importance for assessing survival of endangered species. 

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Simona, graduated in Agricultural Sciences with a specialization in Plant Genetic Improvement. From 2003 to 2018, she focused on screening germplasm collections, conducting genetic mapping, developing molecular markers, and identifying genes related to Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs). Simona also conducted functional genomics experiments to uncover the genes responsible for traits of interest. Since 2019, she has worked as a Laboratory Technician at the EVO·COM group, where she contributes with her expertise in genetics and functional genomics.

Mariangela started her research activity in 2014, as a PhD student in the "Earth, Life and Environmental Sciences" Program at the University of Bologna, and she is currently continuing as a postdoc at the University of Bologna. 

Her research is mostly centered on different aspects of molecular evolution, particularly focusing on the inheritance and variability of the mitochondrial DNA populations and the co-evolution between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. While most of these studies have been conducted on mollusks, she also investigated molecular evolution, tissue characterization, and protein localization in other animal species, including fish and insects.

She is currently studying animal species characterized by extreme longevity, focusing her analyses on the identification of genes in which the selection strength has been intensified in long-lived species, and therefore exploring molecular factors and pathways that may have a role in lifespan extension in animals.  

Mariangela has a propensity for bioinformatics works, and she has experience in processing and investigating genomic and transcriptomic data, including assembly of genomes and transcriptomes, SNP calling, inference of rate of protein evolution, and differential expression. Anyway, if forced to, she can also be a lab person, and she has experience with molecular wet lab protocols, as well as immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry protocols.

Mariangela is always open to collaborations and to explore always different topics involved in any aspect of molecular evolution.

Giobbe is a biologist interested in understanding how traits evolve, especially in the interplay between the processes that happen at the phenotypical level and the underlying molecular one. He is equally fascinated by how traits are established and how they are lost, and in order to unravel the underlying processes, he leverages different analytical frameworks, including phylogenetic comparative methods, transcriptomics, and genomics. 

Even if he did not know what a phasmid was before starting his Ph.D., he grew an extreme fascination with their wing evolution: these structures are one of the more iconic instances in which a trait appears to have been lost in a common ancestor and may have been reacquired in some derived lineages. Here are some of the questions that keep him awake at night: can we consider the ancestral and derived wings homologous? What does homology even mean?! If wings have been reacquired for real, which extent of convergence can we observe in their evolution at the structural and molecular levels? Has pleiotropy anything to do with evolutionary convergence? What if wings disappeared as a macroscopical structure, but their developmental program is still well in place? 

While his major focus is on insects, he sometimes (i.e., often) takes extreme diversions. He spent quite some time studying microbes: he studied fungi as key players in highly complex trophic networks and genome evolution in prokaryote endosymbionts. He's also always up for a glass of wine.

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Evolutionary biologist with a passion for molecular biology and genomics. Currently, I am a PhD student trying to unveil the mechanisms involved in mitochondrial inheritance in animals by taking advantage of a particular system found in bivalves. As the topic is strictly linked with germline specification and differentiation, these inevitably become part of my project as well.

Apart from my main topic of research, I am also interested in the dynamics involved in the evolution of genome under different circumstances (especially unusual ones), comprehending the link between phenotype and genotype and inquiring the connection among the many biological entities in the tree (or web) of life. Naturally curious, I sometimes distract myself even with subjects beyond the biology.

Mirko began his university journey in Pavia, earning a degree in Biotechnology in 2021. He then pursued a Master's Biodiversity and Evolution in Bologna before joining the PhD program in Earth, Life and Environmental Sciences (STVA).

His PhD project focus on exploring the intricate mechanisms of mitonuclear coevolution in Metazoa and its impact on key life-history traits, particularly longevity. His work focuses on vertebrates—especially birds—and social insects, such as ants. He is also the tutor of the course Laboratory of Comparative Genomics, helping new students understand the fascination and usefulness of bioinformatics..

Despite his strong background in wet lab techniques, Mirko has developed a deep interest in computational and bioinformaticss approaches. His research i driven by a passion for understainding genome evolution, and he aims to integrate his findings whithin a broader evo-devo framework.

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