RESEARCH PROJECT ON GRAPEVINE EPIGENETICS BY SANT’ANNA SCHOOL STUDENT WINS AWARD AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW
At almost 20 years of age, Elena Del Pup, a talented and passionate first year student of Plant Physiology at Sant’Anna School, has won the 71st International Research Practice Students’ Conference award. Thousands of research projects by young science enthusiasts from across the world were presented at this conference organized in Moscow on 20-23 March 2018 by the Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy.
By applying her strengths and motivation as an essential element of her education, Elena Del Pup gained her first international recognition giving a talk on “Epigenetics in Grapes for Wine Production: the three-dimensional architecture of the genome”. Her commitment to bringing her ideas to reality was judged outstanding; she worked on her project on grapevine epigenetics during her internship at the Institute of Applied Genomics - Istituto di Genomica Applicata (IGA) Udine.
It is known that many grapevine varieties perform differently in distinct environments and that epigenetic memory (the inheritance by mechanisms other than through the DNA sequence of genes) is used to respond to environmental challenges and stresses posed by climate change. Elena Del Pup focused on how environmental cues direct epigenetic changes and how changes are inherited and defined in adaptation and evolution.
While genome-editing technologies are expected to play an important role in seed ripening and germination and contribute to adaptive responses, Elena Del Pup conducted a comprehensive analysis on the Triticum Urartu genome. Triticum urartu is the diploid progenitor of the bread wheat A-genome, providing important evolutionary information for durum wheat. With continuing biodiversity decline, biotechnologies are necessary to redesign agroecosystems, conserve biodiversity and increase global food security.
Elena Del Pup said, “It was an unforgettable experience. I consider myself fortunate to have had the privilege to participate in an international conference and gain valuable research presentation experience. I am rewarded in receiving important feedback from academics, and having the opportunity to network with other students”.
“If I had to choose a motto – continued Elena – I would use: Preserve, Protect and Improve. Our mission is to preserve, protect and improve our unique, valuable and sensitive grapevine. Epigenetics is essential in the evolution of the biological diversity”.
Elena Del Pup concluded her speech by underlying that, “The full immersion experience of living and studying at Sant’Anna School gives me the opportunity to strengthen my skills. Interacting with the Institute of Applied Genomics and other research centers across the world allows us to gain greater understanding of the epigenetically flexible genome and of the interaction with our environment in preserving and maintaining biodiversity”.
