Roberta Bergero

Roberta Bergero is an SRUC Senior Challenge Research Fellow at Scotland's Rural College's Department of Crop And Soils. She held an external position at the University of Edinburgh from October 2019 to September 2022. Her research focuses on evolutionary genetics, particularly mating systems, plant domestication, plant breeding, and genetic characterization of wild crop relatives. She specializes in studying sex chromosome evolution using model organisms like Silene and the guppy (Poecilia reticulata).

Education:

• PhD in Biology and Biotechnologies of Fungi, University of Turin (1995–1999)
• Bachelor's in Natural Sciences, University of Turin (1989–1994)

Research Interests: Bergero's work integrates evolutionary and molecular genetics to explore how sex chromosomes and mating systems evolve. She investigates genetic diversity in wild plant relatives of crops to inform breeding strategies and domestication processes. Her studies on the guppy Y chromosome shed light on genomic mechanisms underlying sex determination and recombination dynamics in vertebrates.

Publications Trends: Her recent articles emphasize sex chromosome evolution, genomic analysis of the guppy, and mechanisms governing meiotic processes in germline cells. These studies often combine population genomics with comparative genetics to address evolutionary questions.

Advising & Grants: Bergero accepts PhD students and has contributed to interdisciplinary projects involving genetics and genomics. While specific grants are not detailed, her work is supported by collaborative efforts with institutions like the University of Edinburgh and SRUC.