SPEAKER: Dr Carlos Rodriguez Lopez, Environmental Epigenetics and Genetics Group (EEGG), School of Agriculture Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide

DATE: Friday, 25th August 2017
LOCATION: Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds- room ka4.207
TIME: 1:30pm

Seminar will also be video linked to the following campuses: Melbourne Campus at Burwood – Burwood Corporate Centre (attendees-please report to reception for room details on the day); and Warrnambool Campus, Room J2.22

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ABSTRACT: Epigenetic mechanisms are a key interface between the environment and the genotype. These mechanisms provide agility and plasticity by regulating gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes, to ultimately affect the organism’s phenotype. DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification well known for regulating gene expression but also for providing good diagnostic biomarkers for a range of applications. Here I will focus on the use of methylation sensitive Genotyping By Sequencing to generate DNA methylation biomarkers to be used as: 1) a prognostic tool to for pregnancy complications in humans and 2) as a forward genetics tool to identify epiallelic variation in grapevine associated to wine quality traits regulated by plant’s age and location.

BIO: I am originally from the Canary Islands (Spain) where I graduated in Biology (Botany) at the University of La Laguna. I did my postgraduate studies (MSc and PhD) at the University of Reading (UK). Since then I have worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Institute of Biomedicine (Valencia, Spain), The Royal Botanical Garden (Madrid, Spain) and in the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University (Wales, UK). I currently lead the Environmental Epigenetics and Genetics Group (EEGG)) based at the School of Agriculture Food and Wine (AFW) at the University of Adelaide. I am also the Coordinator of Epigenetics Research at AFW and of the Waite Campus Epigenomics Platform. My current research is focused in the field of environmental epigenetics including epigenome/environment interactions in crop and wild species, grapevine epibreeding and biomarker discovery for human health.

Appointments with guest speaker may be made via lee.rollins@deakin.edu.au.