Insights into Functional Genomics: Exploring Phenotype Evolution in Non-Model Organisms
From 13 Jul 2026 until 17 Jul 2026 - BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal (Face-to-face)
One key question in evolutionary biology is how new phenotypes emerge in populations. Recent studies show that regulatory mutations very often contribute to new phenotypes by modulating gene expression while carrying lower pleiotropic effects. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which regulatory mutations impact phenotype evolution remain widely unknown. Advances in molecular and cellular methodologies now allow us to explore how these mutations affect phenotype evolution in non-modal organisms. This course will delve into functional genomics, and how using multiple sources of data can be used to infer how such mutations lead to the emergence of new, adaptive phenotypes.
PROGRAM
Day 1
Course Introduction
An overview of phenotype evolution - Why is regulatory variation important?
Different mechanisms of regulatory evolution (e.g. cis/trans).
An introduction to functional genomics.
Exploring genome features and what they do (e.g., promoters, enhancers, UTRs).
The complex interactions that form regulatory networks.
Day 2
Morning
Using chromatin accessibility to identify regulatory elements.
Histone modifications as markers for gene expression (e.g., ChiP-seq).
Impact of Nucleotide Modifications (e.g., DNA methylation, RNA acetylation) in gene expression.
Afternoon
Hands-on data analysis.
Day 3
Morning
Leveraging 3D genomic techniques (e.g., HI-C) to identify promoter-enhancer interactions.
One genome, multiple tissues –exploring how single-cell information can inform on tissue/cell-specific processes.
Afternoon
Hands-on data analysis
Day 4
Morning
Using machine learning to annotate some regulatory features.
A quick overview of other sources of information that can be used (e.g., protein-protein interactions, in-situs).
Afternoon
Preparing presentations for evaluation.
Day 5
Morning
Presentations by the participants.
Afternoon
Seminar.
Final discussion.
The topics covered in this course are complex and require an understanding of intricate molecular and cellular processes. Therefore, it is expected that the participants have a strong understanding of molecular and cellular biology, ideally including topics on gene regulation, population genetics, and evolutionary biology. Furthermore, due to the necessity of using both command-line based software and statistical frameworks like R, it is expected that the participant have sufficient experiment in both. BIODIV students are required to have attended the "Introduction to R” and the "Linux and HPC cluster” courses. Students’ participation in the "Conservation Genetics” advanced course will also be taken into consideration. Participants will need to use their personal laptops for this course and to install specific software. The necessary instructions and some relevant literature will be sent by email to participants in advance.
CALENDAR
5 days - 35h (Friday all day) - Schedule: 09:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 17:30
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Coordination
Paulo Pereira | BIOPOLIS-CIBIO
Roberto Arbore | BIOPOLIS-CIBIO
Soraia Barbosa | BIOPOLIS-CIBIO
SELECTION CRITERIA
The course will be open to a maximum number of 20 participants.
75% of available student slots are reserved for BIODIV students.
Priority will be given to:
• 1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;
• PhD students attending other courses;
• Other post-graduate students and researchers.
(A minimum number of participants is required for the course to take place)
APPLICATION
Deadline: 22 June 2026
To apply fill the FORM
A copy of your submitted form will be sent to the email address you provided. This email is your confirmation that the application was successfully submitted.
If you don't receive this email, your application was not successfully submitted.
We will email you the results within 10 working days after the application deadline.
REGISTRATION
95€ (students) | 200€ (other participants).
BIOPOLIS/ CIBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%.
Participation is free of charge for BIODIV Students (M BGE & PhD) & CIBIO's TwinLabs members.
(If applicable, payment will be made to Associação BIOPOLIS - VAT No. 516033727. Information on the payment amount and the payment deadline will be sent together with the results notification, and a proforma invoice may be issued in due time).
MORE INFORMATION
Registration fees do not include accommodation or meals.
No ECTS credits are awarded for attending the course. Participants receive a certificate of attendance without quantitative evaluation.
CONTACT
Education & Training Unit (Post graduation office)
+351 252 660 425