Team leader
Prof. Michele Morgante, professor of genetics

Scientists and student tutors 
Dott. Emanuele De Paoli, scientist
Dott. Fabio Marroni, scientist
Dott. Federica Cattonaro, scientist
Dott. Slobodanka Radovic, scientist
Dott. Giusi Zaina, technician

Research 
Our laboratory is currently focusing on genome analysis in plants, including genome sequencing and resequencing, epigenomic analysis, genome evolution studies, and on sequence diversity analysis and association mapping. We have contributed to the sequencing of the grapevine, peach, citrus, barley genomes and are currently sequencing the olive tree. A major research activity is related to resequencing using NGS technologies (Illumina) in order to detect sequence, structural and epigenetic variants and in developing the genomics and bioinformatics technologies needed for this. We are currently engaged in an ERC Advanced Investigator Grant (NOVABREEED, 2012-2017) focused on the concept of the plant pan-genome, that includes core genomic features common to all individuals and a Dispensable Genome (DG) composed of partially shared and/or non shared DNA sequence elements. Our goals are to: define extent and composition of the pan genome in two plant species, maize and grapevine; identify the different mechanisms that generate and maintain the dispensable portion in these 2 species; identify the phenotypic effects of the DG; estimate the rates and modes of creation of new genetic variation due to DG components and whether this could represent an important factor in the breeding process; extend our findings to other plant species.
The work is carried out in strict collaboration with Istituto di Genomica Applicata (IGA, http://www.appliedgenomics.org/).

Lab facilities 
1 HiSeq 2500 Illumina Sequencing System
1 HiSeq 2000 Illumina Sequencing System
1 MiSeq Illumina Personal Sequencing System
1 GaIIx Illumina Genome Analyser
2 ABI3730 XL DNA automated sequencers
2 Beckman Biomek FX Laboratory Automation Workstation
1 Beckman Biomek NX Laboratory Automation Workstation
High performance computing facility with 304 cpu cores, 140 Tby storage

Topics offered for thesis

• Reconstructing the pan genome of maize
• Reconstructing the pan genome of grapevine
• Mechanisms that generate somatic variation in plant genomes
• Functional significance of the dispensable genome
• Analysis of epigenomic variation in plants
• Whole genome analysis of consequences of domestication in the cherry genome