Research

June 15, 2017
1

Congrats to Vicky Suarez-Ulloa on completing a great PhD!!!

Posted by | DNA, Epigenetics, FIU, Graduate student, Marine Biology, Omics, Oysters, Red Tides, Research, Toxicology | No Comments

Victoria Suarez-Ulloa defended her PhD dissertation last week with perfect scores!, this completes a very productive stage in her academic trajectory with 10 papers published, several presentations in international conferences and most importantly, a postdoctoral position already lined up in Europe to continue working with population epigenomics. Vicky, we’re really proud of you and wish you the best for the future!!!

November 13, 2016
1

Back from SETAC world 2017 in Orlando

Posted by | Conference, DNA, Epigenetics, Graduate student, Marine Biology, Oysters, Red Tides, Research, Toxicology | No Comments

Last week we had the chance of participating in a session focused on environmental epigenetics in the world congress of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. It was really great to see so many people interested in using epigenetic approaches to address environmental problems, involving a wide range of new model organisms encompassing environmental and ecological relevance. From our side, we presented works investigating the epigenetic modifications involved in responses to Florida Red tides in Eastern oysters (talk by Dr. Eirin-Lopez), the different genetic networks activated during responses (Victoria Suarez-Ulloa) as well as the first results from our most recent efforts to elucidate the epigenetic mechanisms underlying coral responses to nutrient stress in the ocean (Javier Rodriguez-Casariego). Overall, we left with a great feeling and looking forward to see environmental epigenetics grow and its links with ecology, toxicoloy and physiology being further explored in the future!img_4039

August 23, 2016
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Dr. Eirin-Lopez joins the journal Agri Gene as Associate Editor

Posted by | Chromatin, Epigenetics, Genetics, Research | No Comments

Agri Gene publishes papers that focus on the regulation, expression, function and evolution of genes in crop plants, farm animals, and agriculturally important insects and microorganisms. Agri Gene strives to be a diverse journal and topics in multiple fields will be considered for publication so long as their main focus is on agriculturally important organisms (plants, animals, insects, or microorganisms). Although not limited to the following, some examples of potential topics include:

Gene discovery and characterization.
Genetic markers to guide traditional breeding.
Genetic effects of transposable elements.
Evolutionary genetics, molecular evolution, population genetics, and phylogenetics.
Profiling of gene expression and genetic variation.
Biotechnology and crop or livestock improvement.
Genetic improvement of biological control microorganisms.
Genetic control of secondary metabolic pathways and metabolic enzymes of crop pathogens.
Transcription analysis of beneficial or pest insect developmental stages.

April 27, 2016
2

FIU Receives NSF Grant to Establish Center for Aquatic Chemistry and the Environment

Posted by | Awards, Marine Biology, Research, Toxicology | No Comments

Floridakeys-nasaWith a $5,000,000 grant from the National Science Foundation support (Division Of Human Resource Development), Florida International University will establish the Center for Aquatic Chemistry and the Environment (CREST). Our group participates in this 5-year project led by Biology Professor Todd A. Crowl.

Human-derived environmental contaminants are recognized as having significant effects on ecosystems and biota as well as on human wellbeing. It is critical to understand the biogeochemical processes that govern the fate of these compounds and their impacts on the ecosystem. Center for Aquatic Chemistry and the Environment research will address the sources, transport, transformation and ecosystem responses to contaminants, pollutants and other natural stressors, under changing land-use and environmental conditions. The proposed research will advance current efforts on the biological effects, transport, transformation and distribution of contaminants in the environment into new collaborative research areas that investigate the sources and transport of contaminants and pollutants in aquatic systems. The Center articulates three research subprojects organized around environmental chemistry, biogeochemistry, ecology and data synthesis and modeling as they pertain to regional water resources. In doing so, the Center for Aquatic Chemistry and the Environment will establish innovative opportunities for students to experience authentic and socially relevant environmental research and foster their development as future STEM professionals.

NSF Award Page

March 11, 2016
1

Meet new graduate student Andria Beal

Posted by | Education, Epigenetics, FIU, Graduate student, Marine Biology, Research | No Comments

We have a new Ph.D. student joining us next fall!!! We are excited to welcome Andria Beal to the group! Andria got her Bachelors of Science in Biology at Tarleton State University (2014) and will be getting her Masters of Science in Biology from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, this spring. Andria is already working on the outline of her Ph.D. project, involving sharks, stable isotopes and epigenetics. Really cool stuff! Welcome to sunny Florida Andria!

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December 22, 2015
1

Chromevol is back from ACCEC 2015, Asilomar chromatin is back!

Posted by | Cellular biology, Chromatin, Conference, Epigenetics, Histones, Research | No Comments

Last week we attended the 37th Asilomar Chromatin, Chromosomes and Epigenetics Conference (asilomarchromatin.com) in Pacific Grove, CA. It was a great opportunity to interact with old and new colleagues as well as to enjoy the beautiful setting of this conference in the Monterey peninsula. We had the chance of presenting our research in three talks, including our latest work about histone macroH2A in invertebrates (now under review), network analyses in environmental epigenetic responses and chromatin specialization in marine organisms. Overall it was a great experience (and we had the chance of experiencing the winter for a few days before returning to south Florida!). We’re looking forward for next year’s edition already!

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November 19, 2015
2

Our last work has been just published today on Peer J!

Posted by | Bioinformatics, DNA, Marine Biology, Omics, Red Tides, Research, Toxicology | No Comments

Victoria (Vicky) Suarez-Ulloa, a Graduate Student at Chromevol, has led our last paper entitled “Unbiased high-throughput characterization of mussel transcriptomic responses to sublethal concentrations of the biotoxin okadaic acid”, published today in the journal Peer J. In this work we have collaborated with researchers from UK and Spain characterizing the genes involved in responses to the effects of marine biotoxins. In the pictures below you can see the now traditional “hanging ceremony” of the paper reprint below the corresponding poster (presented at the Gordon Conference in Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics last summer) in the hallway near our lab. Vicky was fortunate enough to count with the help and indications of three gentleman during this operation.

Congrats!!!

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October 27, 2015
3

Chromevol’s research featured at AMLC’s bulletin!

Posted by | Conference, corals, Epigenetics, Evolution, Marine Biology, Research | No Comments

This month’s edition of the Notes of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC) features our research group!

AMLC is a confederation of 27 marine research, education, and resource management institutions endeavoring to encourage the production and exchange of research and resource management information, advance the cause of marine and environmental education in the region, and facilitate cooperation and mutual assistance among its membership. AMLC also has more than 500 Individual Members with professional research and management interests in the Region. We presented our work at the AMLC meeting in Curaçao last May and we’ll repeat for sure in the next edition (Cancun 2017).