University of Cagliari
PhD Program in Life, Environmental and Drug Sciences
- Role
- Dottorando
- laura.flore@unica.it
- Address
- Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, S.S. 554 bivio per Sestu | 09042 Monserrato CA
Curriculum: Animal and Human Biology, and Ecology
Supervisor: Carla Maria Calò
Co-Supervisor: Paolo Francalacci
Curriculum Vitae
Laura took a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2018 and the master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology 2021 at University of Cagliari, discussing a thesis titled "Evaluation of the relationship between sprint and fatigue resistance with the MCT1 polymorphism."
In the last year of the master’s degree, she spent three months of the Erasmus+ Traineeship program at Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu (Estonia) where she analyzed the lactase gene through bioinformatic techniques and evaluated the possible presence of natural selection. After graduation, she spent another three months at Institut de Biologia Evolutiva of Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona where she worked on bioinformatic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences.
She participated with an Oral Presentation at the "XXV Congress Italian Anthropological Association".
She is currently a PhD student in Life, Environmental and Drugs Sciences (Animal and Human Biology, and Ecology Curriculum) under the supervision of Prof. Carla Maria Calo, with a project focused on the analysis of ancient and modern human genomes to study the evolutionary dynamics of Sardinia and Corsica.
Research Topic
Analysis of ancient and modern human genomes to study the evolutionary dynamics of Sardinia
Abstract
Laura Flore's research project focuses on studying the evolutionary dynamics and colonization processes of Sardinia, a Mediterranean island characterized by a strong genetic affinity. Despite their significance and shared early settlement history, ancient and modern genomic data for Sardinia remain limited.
The main objective is to bridge this knowledge gap by analyzing ancient and modern human genomes. The research will particularly concentrate on uniparental markers (Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA), which, due to their non-recombining nature and block inheritance, are crucial for reconstructing the demographic history and genetic structure of populations, outlining paternal and maternal lineages. The analysis of these markers, obtainable even from degraded ancient DNA, will provide direct genetic evidence of past population processes.
The work involves the collection of ancient human bone samples (from the Late Paleolithic to the Middle Ages) and modern saliva samples from Sardinian and Corsican individuals, following strict ethical protocols. Methodologies will include DNA extraction, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and advanced bioinformatic analyses.
The expected outcomes aim to provide a detailed picture of Sardinia’s evolutionary and demographic past. This will allow for understanding local adaptation mechanisms (to climatic, ecological, and pathogenic selective pressures) and their relationship with complex pathologies. The study will offer a comprehensive insight into the origin, evolution, and genetic relationships of populations inhabiting Sardinia over the last 20,000 years, contributing to a more complete understanding of Western Mediterranean peopling.
Publications