Later, in 2000, in accordance with advances in molecular biology techniques, DDNI established the molecular biology laboratory. Furthermore, special consideration was given to the Lower Danube sturgeon species through close collaboration with the Sturgeon Research Group (SRG). During the past decades there has been great progress worldwide in molecular biology research on sturgeons. Knowledge regarding the genetic variability of sturgeons from the Danube River basin, the last wild self-sustaining sturgeon population in the European Union, has gradually increased every year. The preliminary studies on the genetic structure of sturgeon populations of the Danube River were conducted in collaboration with the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics at Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Since then, the genetics and molecular ecology team has focused on:
- Identification of species, populations and interspecies hybrids;
- Studying the genetic diversity and population structure;
- Isolation and sequencing of new sturgeon genetic markers for phylogenetic studies.
Since the beginning of 2015, the Genetic and Molecular Ecology Laboratory has expanded its expertise, covering several genetic aspects of colonial waterbirds from the Danube Delta.
Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development
Babadag Street, nr. 165, PO 820112, Tulcea City, Romania
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Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
Ecological Restoration and Species Recovery
Informational System and Geomatics
Center for the Study of Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases
Center for the Study of Transborder and Emergent Diseases and Zoonoses
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