The Laboratory of Molecular Genetics is shared by the Department of Animal Science and Food Processing and the Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry. The laboratory is fully-equipped for DNA extractions, standard PCR techniques, visualizations by electrophoresis and other related activities.
The team is headed by Mgr. Barbora Černá Bolfíková, Ph.D. and engaged in animal research works with all aspects of gene flow in populations over a long period. Here, Ph.D. students, M.Sc. students and B.Sc. students carry out the research parts of their theses focused on the detection of population structure, the monitoring of hybridization and the phylogenetic analyses of selected species. We are interested in issues related to the evolution of species and populations and we are trying to find answers using standard population genetics analyses. Currently we are also preparing to start a project with genomic techniques on selected models.
Students from the Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry in this laboratory investigate genetic diversity of more and less well-known crops and agroforestry trees, mainly from Latin America and Africa. The species of interest include, for example, Thebroma cacao (cacao), Adansonia digitata (baobab), Myrciaria dubia (camu-camu), Mauritia flexuosa (aguaje), among many others. This research is mainly focused on the assessment of the influence of various factors, such as domestication, deforestation, fragmentation of habitat, breeding programmes etc., on the genetic diversity of the investigated species.
The equipment of the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics is also utilized in the teaching of classes for Bachelors' as well as Masters' programmes.
