Acuigen, genetics for aquaculture and conservation biological resources

Interests

I am a geneticist interested in the study of evolution and the architecture of genomes, and their applications to conservation genetics and to genetic breeding. I have been working with different molecular markers and statistical methodologies to estimate genetic population parameters and to reconstruct phylogenies. Also, I am applying parentage analysis and genomic methodologies in genetic breeding programs. My research has been mainly focused on aquatic organisms, initially fish, but more recently also mollusks. I am largely involved in technology transfer both to administration agencies related with conservation genetics and to aquaculture companies. Since 2003, I work in the development of genomic tools for evolutionary and applied studies, such as genetic mapping to identify QTL, massive gene expression (oligo-microarrays, RNAseq) analysis to identify candidate genes related to productive traits, and highthroughput genotyping SNPs (RADseq) for population genomics or genomic selection projects.REcently, our group has co-led the whole genome sequencing of the turbot genome.

Selected publications

Figueras A., Robledo D., Corvelo A., Hermida M., Pereiro P., Rubiolo J. A., Gómez-Garrido J., Carreté L., Bello X., Gut M., Gut I.G., Marcet-Houben M., Forn-Cuní G., Galán B., García J.L., Abal-Fabeiro J.L., Pardo B.G., Taboada X., Fernández C., Vlasova A., Hermoso-Pulido A., Guigo R., Alvarez-Dios J. A., Gómez-Tato A., Viñas A., Maside X., Gabaldón T., Novoa B., Bouza C., Alioto T. & Martínez P. 2016. Whole genome sequencing of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus; Pleuronectiformes): a fish adapted to demersal life. DNA Research (doi: 10.1093/dnares/dsw007)

Pino-Querido A., Alvarez-Castro J.M., Guerra-Varela J., Toro M.A., Vera M., Pardo B.G., Fuentes J., Blanco J. & Martínez P. 2015. Heritability estimation for okadaic acid algal toxin accumulation, mantle color and growth traits in Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis). Aquaculture 440: 32-39.

Taboada X.,Hermida M., Pardo B.G., Viñas A., Bouza C. & Martínez P. 2014. Fine mapping and evolution of the major sex determining region in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). G3, Gene, Genomes, Genetics 10: 1871-1880.

Robledo, D., Ronza P., Harrison P., Losada A. P., Bermúdez R., Pardo B.G., Redondo M. J., Sitjá-Bobadilla A., Quiroga M. I. & Martínez, P. 2014. RNA-seq analysis reveals significant transcriptome changes in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) suffering severe enteromyxosis. BMC Genomics 15:1149.

Ribas L., Pardo B.G., Fernández C., Alvarez-Dios J.A., Gómez-Tato A., Quiroga M.I., Planas J., Sitjà-Bobadilla A., Martínez P. & Piferrer F. 2013. A combined strategy involving Sanger and 454 pyrosequencing increases genomic resources to aid in the management of reproduction, disease control and genetic selection in the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). BMC Genomics 14:180.

Bouza C., Hermida M, Pardo B.G., Vera M., Fernández C., de la Herrán R., Navajas R., Álvarez-Dios J.A., Gómez-Tato A. & Martínez P. 2012. An Expressed Sequence Tag (EST)-enriched genetic map of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus): a useful framework for comparative genomics across model and farmed teleosts. BMC Genetics 13: 54.

Rodríguez-Ramilo S., Toro M.A., Bouza C., Hermida M., Pardo B.G., Cabaleiro S. & Martínez P. 2011. QTL detection for Aeromonas salmonicida resistance related traits in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). BMC Genomics 12:541.

Sánchez-Molano E., Cerna A., Toro M.A., Bouza C., Hermida M., Pardo B.G., Cabaleiro S., Fernández J. & Martínez P. 2011. Detection of growth-related QTL in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). BMC Genomics 12: 473.

Millán A., Gómez-Tato A., Fernández C., Pardo B.G., Álvarez-Dios J.A., Calaza M., Bouza C., Vázquez M., Cabaleiro S. & Martínez P. 2010. Design and performance of a turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) oligo-microarray based on ESTs from immune tissues. Marine Biotechnology 12: 452-465.

Martínez P., Bouza C., Hermida M., Fernández J., Toro M.A., Vera M., Pardo B.G., Millán A., Fernández C., Vilas R., Viñas A., Sánchez L., Felip A., Piferrer F., Ferreiro I. & Cabaleiro S. 2009. Identification of the major sex-determining region of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). Genetics 183: 1443-1452

Bouza C., Hermida M., Pardo B.G., Fernández C.,  Castro J., Fortes G., Sánchez L., Presa P., Pérez M., Sanjuán A., Comesaña S., Álvarez J.A., Calaza M., Cal R., Piferrer F. y Martínez P. 2007. A microsatellite genetic map in the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). Genetics 177: 2457-2467.