Trial lecture: 'De-extinction’ – is it possible and is it right?'
Time and place: June 5, 2025 10:15 AM, Nucleus, Bikuben, Kristine Bonnevies hus
Breathing Without Air: How the Crucian Carp Thrives in Low Oxygen
The crucian carp, a remarkable fish, can survive prolonged periods without oxygen. This unique ability makes the crucian carp an exceptional model for studying biological adaptations to extreme environments. In my thesis, I discovered how epigenomic factors, including DNA methylation, DNA methylation-related enzymes, and long non-coding RNAs, contribute to the crucian carp's ability to cope with low oxygen levels.
I found that during oxygen depletion, the crucian carp shows significant changes in gene expression in the brain. Specific genes exhibited expressions associated with unique DNA methylation patterns, and the involvement of DNA methylation-related enzymes was identified. Furthermore, long non-coding RNAs appeared to play a critical role in mediating these gene expression changes.
This research not only sheds light on the crucian carp's survival strategies but also has implications for understanding how other species, including humans, might respond to hypoxic conditions. Therefore, my work advances both ecological knowledge and potential applications in medicine and conservation.
Adjudication committee
Prof. Daniel Macqueen, University of Edinburgh
Senior Lecturer Gina Galli, University of Manchester
Group Leader Erna Davydova, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Chair of defense
Prof. Rafal Ciosk, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Supervisors
Prof. Sjannie Lefevre Nilsson, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Prof. Øivind Andersen, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
Researcher Lucie Claire Lola Gerber, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo