FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS IN EVO-DEVO. MONDAY 11th December 2023

MORNING SESSION: Manuel Irimia

A fundamental challenge in Biology is to understand how a single genome sequence can give rise to the extensive variety of cell and tissue types that compose a complex multicellular organism. Decades of research in cell and developmental biology have shown that this is achieved by tight transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of the genome during embryogenesis and adulthood. The primary outcome of this regulation is the transcriptome. Fortunately, the development of next-generation sequencing technologies more than a decade ago have allowed us to obtain highly detailed snapshots of the transcriptome of any given sample. From these data we can extract, for example, the quantitative regulation of gene expression and the qualitative diversification through alternative splicing. In this seminar, I will give an overview about comparative transcriptomic analysis, especially with respect to alternative splicing. 

AFTERNOON SESSION: Juan Tena

In this course, we will discuss the ATAC-seq technique, which provides a map of open or accessible regions of the genome. These regions are usually active regions, mainly promoters and regulatory elements, so the results of this technique are extremely useful in studies related to gene regulation. In the theoretical part, we will discuss sample preparation and the main steps of data analysis, and in the practical part we will perform a simple analysis and visualize the results.

SINGLE & SPATIAL TRANSCRIPTOMICS IN EVO-DEVO. TUESDAY 12th December 2023

MORNING SESSION: Jordi Solana

The session will be dedicated to the topic of single cell transcriptomics, with a structured approach to understanding its theoretical, molecular, and practical aspects. Beginning with a brief introduction to bulk transcriptomics (RNA-seq), we will lay the groundwork for comprehending single cell analysis. Subsequently, we will delve into the essentials of cell dissociation, explore the molecular basis of cell barcoding, and establish the foundational concepts behind the analysis methods used in single cell transcriptomics. To enhance comprehension, the session will also feature a hands-on practical exercise, allowing participants to actively engage with and visualize single cell information. Finally, we will see some practical applications of single cell transcriptomics to study stem cells and their evolution in different regenerating invertebrates such as cnidarians, annelids and planarians.

AFTERNOON SESSION: Aida Verdes

In this session we will focus on Spatial Transcriptomics, a powerful technology that allows to map and visualize the spatial location of whole transcriptomes within tissue sections. This allows us to connect specific molecules with particular anatomical features, tissues or even cell types, helping us to better understand the function and evolution of traits. I will introduce the technology and walk you through a hands-on exercise to explore spatial gene expression patterns in venomous ribbon worm tissues.

ECO-EVO-DEVO. WEDNESDAY 13th December 2023

MORNING SESSION: Christoph Liedtke

In this course, I will highlight how transcriptomics is a powerful approach for studying gene expression of plastic phenotypes. I will introduce this toolkit and go through a hands-on practical of how to study the gene expression underlying plastic changes in pigmentation in amphibian larvae

AFTERNOON SESSION: Isabel Almudi

In this course we will use RNA-seq toolkits to see how the evolutionary novelties have influenced the radiation of certain groups of animals, with a particular focus on the results we have obtained in the evolution of winged insects, the most diverse and numerous group of animals on the planet.

NEW TECHS TO INTERFERE GENE FUNCTION. THURSDAY 14th December 2023

MORNING SESSION: Eduardo Gonzalez Grandío

CRISPR/Cas is a revolutionary technique that enables precise and targeted gene editing in a wide range of organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. Unlike traditional genetic modification methods, CRISPR/Cas allows scientists to edit genes with unparalleled accuracy, making it a powerful tool for both basic research and applications in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. This session is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the revolutionary CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology and its application in plant biology. This workshop combines theoretical knowledge (overview and history of the CRISPR/Cas gene editing system, its components and exploration of real cases and their impact) with practical hands-on experience, that includes designing gRNA sequences for targeting genes in plant genomes and how to analize these results. 

INTEGRATING NEW TECHNIQUES FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF BIODIVERSITY. THURSDAY 14th December 2023

AFTERNOON SESSION: Ana Riesgo

This session will give you a general perspective on how we can apply different techniques to resolve evolutionary and developmental questions across the tree of life.