Hellenic Centre for Marine Research. Institute of Marine Biology and Genetics

Transcription

1 Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Institute of Marine Biology and Genetics

2 Foundation Scientific objectives Law 2919/2001: Merging of the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete (IMBC) and the National Centre of Marine Research (NCMR) to establish the

3 The present structure HCMR has five institutes, which carry out research into specific thematic areas. Institute of Oceanography Institute of Aquaculture Institute of Marine Biological Resources Institute of Inland Waters Institute of Marine Biology and Genetics

4 HCMR enjoys top-level scientific support from its two research vessels, the RV AEGAIO and RV PHILIA,, and its state-of of-the-art 2-man 2 submersible THETIS as well as two deepwater ROVs, named the MAX ROVER and the SUPER ACHILLES. HCMR is also responsible for the Rhodes Aquarium and the soon-to to-be completed Aquarium in Crete

5 Facilities New purpose-built building in the former American base at Gournes Used since December m 2 of labs, offices, storage places 4 new lab modules to be set up soon Thalassocosmos: a complex for research education - recreation

6 Historical background IMBG (together with the Institute of Aquaculture) is actually the successor to IMBC, in the sense that it inherited the greater part of its activities and personnel from the IMBC IMBC: Institute that was developed dynamically based mainly on its successful competition for external funding, especially from the EU. Close co-operation operation with international organizations and participation in many international initiatives

7 Objective of IMBG The analysis of the diversity of marine life at all levels of biological organisation,, from the gene to the ecosystem. This multi-parametric approach besides having a basic research interest,, has important implications for applied sectors,, such as environmental protection, fisheries management, genetic improvement in aquaculture, and prediction of the responses of the ecosystem to anthropogenic and natural changes.

8 Main research directions Genetics and molecular biotechnology: Use of molecular genetic tools to assess population structure of natural and cultivated stocks; production of genetic maps of model species to shed light on the genetic basis of traits of commercial interest and fitness characteristics; comparative, functional and environmental genomics by using modern technologies

9 Biodiversity and ecosystem management: Collection, collation and dissemination of marine biodiversity data,, using the latest technologies and information management techniques; dissemination of innovative technological achievements and products; contribution in the sector of sustainable use of biological diversity and its components in a holistic manner Environmental chemistry and microbiology laboratories

10 Personnel Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management Total: 31 persons Researchers Functiona l Scie ntific personnel S pe cific Scie ntific pe rs onne l Technical personnel Fellows Adm inis tra tion 4 Scientists acting as Scientific Responsibles: Dr. A., Magoulas Dr. C. Dounas Dr. G. Kotoulas Dr. Ch. Arvanitidis

11 Currently running research projects Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management Eur RTD National NoE Other Regional Service Total number of projects: 21

12 Budget of currently running projects Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management 0 Eur RTD National NoE Other Regional Service Total funding: c. 3,950,000

13 IMBG specializes in research areas on the cutting edge of international scientific interest and uses modern state-of of-the-art technology It runs the only national excellence program on marine biodiversity and participates in both the relevant European networks of excellence, MarBEF and Marine Genomics Europe It has played a pioneering role, at the European level, for the introduction of genomic approaches in the aquaculture Its infrastructure has now reached a satisfactory standard at the European level

14 In-house projects Continuation of work on pelagic fish after the end of the respective funded projects (anchovy swordfish) Experimental search for conserved sequences across the teleost fish Comparative linkage map between sea bream and sea bass Phylogeography of insular populations (hare lizards) Study of probiotic bacteria from the intestines of cultivated fish Assessment of microbial diversity in selected marine ecosystems

15 Services Genetic analysis of fish farm stocks: assessment of genetic health of the stocks (level of genetic polymorphism, retrospective parentage identification). Development of molecular tests for species identification: identification of species of sharks in processed commercial products to protect endangered species. Monitoring of water quality and safety of swimming beaches Microbiological tests of bottled drinking waters Tripolis

16 Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology Developing environmental assessment probes for macrobenthic & microbial communities Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Institute of Marine Biology and Genetics

17 Overall objective Objectives Development of environmental probes by which the most important indicator taxa in the marine environment will be profiled. Specific objectives Screens for species identification for some polychaete taxa (mtdna & ITS) across environmental gradients Extensive population genetic analysis by nuclear markers for a few f species Focus on key species to develop cdna libraries and genome resource Apply specific diversity analysis of microbial community by 16s rrna analysis; Develop metagenomics sample collections of extreme bacterial communities; the resource repository Diffusion of genomics know-how from fish to bacteria; bacterial genomics as educational tool for genomic research

18 IMBG Expertise & Resources Combined expertise in many aspects of population genetics and genomics. Long-term taxonomic expertise in macrobenthic organisms, indicator species issues, and comprehensive analyses of communities. Bacterial communities research can readily be applied at IMBG, based on expertise in phylogenetic analysis and on-going research with intestinal symbiotic bacteria, as well as environmental samples from lagoons and extreme ecosystems

19 IMBG proximity to diverse marine ecosystems & complementary research teams Proximity to a range of different ecosystems; unlimited sampling potentialities Collaboration with: the sister HCMR Institutes (Oceanography & Aquaculture) Department of Environmental Chemistry (University of Crete) with expertise in atmosphere sea coupling and proteomic facility with the University of Athens for bacterial taxonomy NoE Marine Genomics