Morena Carlentini
Tutor: Salvatore Bordonaro
- From October 2024: PhD Course in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science (Di3a) - University of Catania. Reaserch project: "Evaluation of genomic diversity and functional traits in three Sicilian horse breeds".
- July 2023 - July 2024: Reaserch grant at the "Istituto di Incremento Ippico per la Sicilia" in Catania. Reaserch topic: "Preservation, conservation and valorization of Sicilian horse and donkey genetic resources" - PSR 2014-2020 - Operation 10.2.b: “Conservation of animal genetic resources in agriculture”.
- June 2021: Qualification to practice the profession of Agronomist - University of Catania.
- October 2020: Master's Degree in Agricultural Biotechnology - LM7 (Di3a) - University of Catania. Thesis title: "Genomic variability, level of inbreeding and first selection evidence in Sicilian horse breeds". Final degree mark: 110/110 cum laude.
- July 2018: Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural science and technology - L25 (Di3a) - University of Catania. Thesis title: "Morpho-functional evaluation and characterization of Sicilian horse breeds". Final degree mark: 110/110 cum laude.
The PhD project “Evaluation of genomic diversity and functional traits in three Sicilian horse breeds” in collaboration with "Istituto di Incremento Ippico per la Sicilia" aims to study the genomic structure of the three Sicilian horse breeds Purosangue Orientale, Sanfratellano and Cavallo Siciliano. Will be evaluated the presence of genomic regions fixed in these local breeds as a consequence of selective processes and any associations between molecular markers and the ability to adapt to environmental factors, with particular attention to resilience and welfare traits in the context of climate change and heat stress. Sicilian horse breeds carrying genetic traits of adaptation shaped by their environment over time, are an excellent model for studying the biological mechanisms behind resilience and environmental adaptation. The focus of the project is on the conservation and valorization of the horse genetic resources, whose status is extremely worrying in Sicily.