Seminar “Genome organization and chromosome dynamics during meiosis in wheat in the context of genetic improvement”.

Next 19/04/2024, at 11:00 h, a research conference entitled “Genome organization and chromosome dynamics during meiosis in wheat in the context of genetic improvement” will take place in the auditorium of the Institute of Bioengineering, located in the Vinalopó building of the Elche campus, within the program of seminars of the Master in Biotechnology and Bioengineering and the Doctoral Program in Bioengineering. The conference will be given by Dr. Pilar Prieto (CSIC Senior Scientist) from the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture-CSIC, and is organized by Prof. Sara Jover Gil, researcher at the Institute of Bioengineering of the UMH.

Brief description of the talk

“Wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide, but it faces numerous challenges due to the effects of global warming. The main objective of our research line is to contribute to the scientific knowledge of the genome of this strategic crop for its improvement and adaptation to current and future environmental conditions. The development of methodologies and the study of key processes such as meiosis (cell division that generates gametes in organisms with sexual reproduction, which is greatly affected by temperature and ensures plant fertility), can contribute to the improvement of wheat resilience to the effects of global warming. We will delve into critical processes that occur at the onset of meiosis, such as the recognition and association of homologous or equivalent chromosomes, to facilitate chromosomal manipulation for genetic improvement. We will focus on the study of telomeres and subtelomeres, which occupy the distal regions of chromosomes and are directly involved in these processes.”

Other information of interest

Dr. Pilar Prieto graduated in Biological Sciences in 1999 with an extraordinary award. She started her fruitful research career at the University of Cordoba, where she obtained her PhD in Biological Sciences. She has been a “Ramón y Cajal” researcher, and since 2008 she is a CSIC Senior Scientist at the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture, of which she was Vice-Director between 2020 and 2022. Her lines of research range from the genetic improvement of wheat through the introgression of genes of agronomic interest from wild relatives, to the study of meiosis to facilitate interspecific recombination in cereals. His lines of research have received funding through various national and international projects, highlighting two European projects as PI, an ERC-Starting Grant from the European Research Council and an EMBO project from the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). These lines of work have resulted in almost 60 articles all included in the SCI (Q1) in journals of special relevance and several book chapters. She has been included since 2020 in the ranking of the most cited researchers worldwide by Stanford University. She teaches in two Masters of the University of Cordoba (“Master in Plant Production, Protection and Improvement” and “Master in Molecular, Cellular and Genetic Biotechnology”) and participates in the PhD Program “Biosciences and Agroalimentary Sciences” of the University of Cordoba. She belongs to the international committee “AcademiaNet: Profiles of Leading Women Scientists” of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) since December 2011, the invitation/selection-only European Network of women of excellence in all scientific fields.