Theoretical Biology

I was recruited in 2018 at the Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes (LGDP UMR 5096 UPVD/CNRS, Perpignan) to develop interdisciplinary research about population dynamics including a genomic aspects within the team of Theoretical Biology.

Transposable Elements

The main components of genome are genes and transposable elements (also known as jumping genes). The latter have the capacity to move or replicate inside the genome. Initially considered as out of interest or harmful (such as parasites), it has been demonstrated that their insertion in the genome could be valuable for genome function and evolution.

My team has developped a theoretical model to details transposable elements dynamics considering asexual reproduction [FLO20]. I am developing a software to handle sexual reproduction to model transposable elements dynamics.

Parasites of chestnut trees

I am working on the infestation of chestnut trees by a parasite (hymenoptera: Dryocosmus Kuriphilus). I developped a new methodology based on graph analysis to identify dangerous and vulnerable areas of the forest based on the spatial repartition of chestnut tree. The repartition of trees over the whole forest can help to prevent an invasion or help to counter it.

References

FLO20

Flores-Ferrer, A. et al. The ecology of the genome and the dynamics of the biological dark matter. Journal of Theoretical Biology 518, 110641 (2021).