The scientific research of the Department of Genetics and Reproduction Biology (DGRB) is aimed at the population genetics of forest trees and the research of new genetic resources. In population genetics, research is focused on the study of population biodiversity and hybridological relationships of selected coniferous species, interspecific hybrid populations, and the process of hybridization using molecular markers. In the framework of new genetic resources, activities are oriented toward multidisciplinary research of amaranth. Various tissue culture techniques are exploited for the clonal propagation of selected genotypes. At the DGRB, all commonly used laboratory equipment for molecular biology, protein, and DNA analyses is present, as well as laboratories and culture rooms for work with sterile in vitro cultures.
Research areas
The population studies primarily oriented on the genetic structure of the fir populations in Slovakia as well as on the hybrid swarms of Scots pine and Mountain pine in the north of the country include
- estimation of the extent of introgressive hybridization between the above-mentioned pine parental species
- interspecific pollination and analysis of population genetic structure of firs using cpDNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and nuclear microsatellite DNA
- the study of the hybrid swarm fertility of the above-mentioned pine species
- induction of somatic embryogenesis from immature and mature zygotic embryos of the species Pinus and Abies sp. as in vitro method suitable for mass propagation of conifers
- investigation of molecular processes occurring during somatic embryogenesis on proteomic level
In the field of multidisciplinary research of amaranth, activities are oriented on
- analyses of amaranth mutant lines and new varieties ‘Pribina’ and ‘Zobor’ registered in Slovakia in 2013 and 2015 on genetic, biochemical, and molecular levels using modern -omics technologies
- the study of amaranth adaptability to environmental stresses – from molecular to ecophysiological aspects.
Laboratory of the Department of Genetics and Reproduction Biology
- ELECTRONIC ANALYTICAL DIGITAL BALANCES – KERN AEJ (Kern and Sohn GmbH)
AUTOCLAVE HORIZONTAL medium capacity - Laboklav 55M (SHP), 2 ks
AUTOCLAVE HORIZONTAL small capacity - Laboklav 25M (SHP), 2 ks
BENCHTOP CENTRIFUGE REFRIGERATED - 5418R, 5424R (Eppendorf)
HORIZONTAL ELECTROPHORETIC APPARATUS large - SGU-040T-02 (C.B.S. Scientific), 2 ks
ELEKTROFORETIC POWER SUPPLY 1 - EV202 (Consort)
ELECTRONIC ANALYTICAL DIGITAL BALANCES WITH INTERNAL CALIBRATION - AEJ 200-4NM (Kern)
GEL DOKUMENTATION SYSTEM– Gel Doc It 2 310 (UVP)
GRADIENT TERMAL CYCLER - SureCycler 8800 (Agilent Technologies)
INCUBATOR WITH COOLING - KB 115 (Binder)
INCUBATOR WITH COOLING 2 - Friocell 55 Comf. (Binder)
LABORATORY DRYER WITH ACCESSORIES medium capacity - UF 110 (Memmert), 2 ks
LABORATORY DRYER WITH ACCESSORIES small capacity - UF 55 (Memmert), 2 ks
BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINET CLASS II - Bio II Advance 6 (Telstar), 3 ks
INVERTED MICROSCOPE – TMS (Nikon)
ROTARY MIKROTOME – Cut 4055 (MicroTec)
RETRACTION ROTARY ERGONOMIC MICROTOME – 0325 (Anglia Scientific)
MINICENTRIFUGE (MiniSpin) - Micro Star 12 (VWR Collection)
ULTRA-PURE WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM WITH ACCESSORIES - Simplicity UV (Merck Millipore)
THERMAL CYCLER – Ts personal (Biometra)
SHAKER INCUBATED AND REFRIGERATED WITH ACCESSORIES - Excella E24R (NEW BRUNSWICK)
GLASS WASHER WITH ACCESSORIES - G 7893, Rodem (Miele)