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Vicoso Group

Sex-Chromosome Biology and Evolution

Sex chromosomes, such as the X and Y of mammals, are involved in sex-determination in many animal and plant species. Their sex specificity leads them to evolve differently from other chromosomes, and acquire distinctive biological properties. The Vicoso group investigates how sex chromosomes evolve over time, and what biological forces are driving their patterns of differentiation.

The Vicoso group is interested in understanding several aspects of the biology of sex chromosomes, and the evolutionary processes that shape their peculiar features. By combining the use of next-generation sequencing technologies with studies in several model and non-model organisms, they can address a variety of standing questions, such as: Why do some Y chromosomes degenerate while others remain homomorphic, and how does this relate to the extent of sexual dimorphism of the species? What forces drive some species to acquire global dosage compensation of the X, while others only compensate specific genes? What are the frequency and molecular dynamics of sex-chromosome turnover?




Team

Image of Maria Adame Galeano

Maria Adame Galeano

PhD Student

Image of Carolina Barata

Carolina Barata

Postdoc

Image of Vincent Bett

Vincent Bett

PhD Student


Image of Marwan Elkrewi

Marwan Elkrewi

PhD Student

Image of Réka Kelemen

Réka Kelemen

Postdoc

Image of Clementine Lasne

Clementine Lasne

Postdoc


Image of Lorena Layana

Lorena Layana

PhD Student

Image of Ariana Macon

Ariana Macon

Research Technician

Image of Andrea Mrnjavac

Andrea Mrnjavac

Postdoc


Image of Ruben Olbrechts

Ruben Olbrechts

PhD Student

Image of Evgeniya Pravdolyubova

Evgeniya Pravdolyubova

PhD Student

Image of Dunja Rokvic

Dunja Rokvic

PhD Student


Image of Filip Ruzicka

Filip Ruzicka

Postdoc


Current Projects

Sex chromosome turnover and conservation | Dosage compensation in female-heterogametic species | Gene expression evolution in sexual and asexual species


Publications

Mcdonough Y, Ruzicka F, Connallon T. 2024. Reconciling theories of dominance with the relative rates of adaptive substitution on sex chromosomes and autosomes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 121(44), e2406335121. View

Elkrewi MN, Vicoso B. 2024. Single-nucleus atlas of the Artemia female reproductive system suggests germline repression of the Z chromosome. PLoS Genetics., e1011376. View

Cecalev D, Vicoso B, Galupa R. 2024. Compensation of gene dosage on the mammalian X. Development. 151(15), dev202891. View

Raices J. 2024. Novel approaches to studying alternative splicing in Drosophila Melanogaster: Insights into sex-specific gene expression and the evolution of sex determination. Institute of Science and Technology Austria. View

Kelemen RK. 2024. Characterizing the sequence and expression evolution of the t-haplotype, a model meiotic driver. Institute of Science and Technology Austria. View

View All Publications

ReX-Link: Beatriz Vicoso


Career

Since 2020 Professor, Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
2015 – 2020 Assistant Professor, Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
2009 – 2014 Postdoc, University of California, Berkeley, USA
2010 PhD, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK


Selected Distinctions

2017 Member of the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
2016 ERC Starting Grant
2016 FWF Standalone Grant
2011 DeLill Nasser Travel Award from the Genetics Society of America


Additional Information

Download CV
Open Vicoso lab website



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