Detalle de: Genetic determinants of primate and mammal phenome evolution

The phenome represents the complete set of healthy traits in a species, whether at the level of individuals, tissues, cells, or molecules. These traits arise from molecular processes encoded in the genome and regulated through various mechanisms. Over time, evolution selects phenomes that enhance survival, leaving behind genetic traces in present-day genomes. In collaboration with the Evolutionary Genomics Lab at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE-CSIC), we conduct comparative studies across species to uncover genetic differences associated with phenotypic variations that have evolved over time. We gather data on hundreds of physical, ecological, and life-history traits from primates and other mammals with high-quality genome sequences. Using advanced computational tools, such as phylogenetic comparative methods, we identify genomic changes that may have influenced key traits in species closely related to humans. These candidate changes are further validated in the lab to confirm their role in shaping observed traits. Our goal is to leverage evolutionary insights to better understand healthy mammalian and primate genomes and phenomes. This knowledge can help inform new treatments for conditions like cancer, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and rare disorders.