Molecular Evolution, RNA World and Biosensors

This research group studies interrelated issues on the origin and early evolution of life (including experimental and theoretical approaches to the RNA world hypothesis), genetics of RNA viruses (dynamics of viral quasispecies and sequence-structure-function relationships in viral genomic RNA), in vitro evolution of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA aptamers), and biosensor development (DNA microarray technology, aptamers and peptide nucleic acids-based biosensors, bionanotechnology-inspired sensors). This group also collaborates in interdisciplinary research projects devoted to the analysis of microbial biodiversity in extreme environments.