IBMB SEMINAR, Monday, April 7th 14:30h | Dr. Arnau Sebé-Pedrós

Date: Monday, April 7th | Felix Serratosa room | 07|04|2025

Time: 14:30h

Speaker: Dr. Arnau Sebé-Pedrós
Group Leader at CRG

Title: “Early metazoan cell type diversity, evolution and regulation“

Seminar Room: Fèlix Serratosa

Host Researcher: Hector Garcia-Seisdedos

Abstract

A fundamental question in biology is how the diverse cell types observed in a multicellular organism are encoded by a single genome sequence and which regulatory mechanisms orchestrate the deployment and maintenance of cell type-specific transcriptional programs. However, the diversity of these cell type programs remains largely unexplored beyond a few selected tissues in a limited number of species. Similarly, little is known about the emergence of complex genome regulatory mechanisms that support cell type-specific programs and cellular memory.

In our group, we aim to understand the diversity and evolution of cell type programs in early-branching metazoans, including ctenophores, sponges, placozoans, and cnidarians. We also conduct comparative studies on the evolution of chromatin components and mechanisms underlying this cell type specialization. In this seminar, I will discuss our work tracing the emergence of neuronal gene expression programs in early animals. I will also present ongoing efforts to dissect cell type-specific gene regulatory networks in early metazoans and explain why this approach could transform our understanding of cell type evolution.