Ornella Semino
e-mail: ornella.semino AT unipv.it
affiliation: Università di Pavia
research area(s): Genetics And Genomics, Molecular Biology
Course:
Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology
University/Istitution: Università di Pavia
University/Istitution: Università di Pavia
ACADEMIC POSITION
Associate Professor of Genetics, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia (Italy). Tel: (office) +39 0382-985543. Tel: (lab) +39 0382-985544. Fax: +39 0382-528496.
e-mail: ornella.semino@unipv.it
EDUCATION
Laurea” with honor in Biological Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
PhD equivalent: “Specializzazione” with honor in Applied Genetics, University of Pavia.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Since 2005. Associate Professor of Genetics, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Italy.
Since 2011. Member of the PhD Program in Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Pavia, Italy.
Since 2015. Member of the School of Specialisation in “Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry”, University of Pavia, Italy.
2007-2010. Member of the PhD Program in Genetics and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
2005-2007. Member of the PhD Program in Molecular Biopathology, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy.
2004-2005. Member of the School of Specialization in “Applied Genetics”, University of Pavia, Italy.
1993-2004. Research Assistant, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Italy.
1989-1993. Fellow of the School of Specialisation in Applied Genetics, as ranking first in the entrance exam - Department of Genetics and Microbiology “A. Buzzati-Traverso”, University of Pavia, Italy.
1986-1989. Fellow (“Buzzati-Traverso” and “G. e L. Shenker Foundation fellowships) - Department of Genetics and Microbiology "A. Buzzati-Traverso", University of Pavia, Italy.
1985-1986. Intern at the Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, for the acquisition of the National Professional Qualification as Biologist, and teacher at Middle and High Public Schools.
1982-1984. Undergraduate Internship at the Human Genetic Lab of the Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Italy.
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY
Since 2019. Vicar President of the “Teaching Council” of Biological Sciences. Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia.
Since 2013. Member of the Joint Committee of Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia.
Since 2010. Member of the “Joint Tutoring Committee” of Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia.
2010-2014. Scientific Board Member of the Interdepartmental Centre for Gender Studies, University of Pavia.
Since 2007. Co-coordinator of the teaching activity of the Ph.D. in Genetic and Biomolecular Sciences, now Ph.D. in Genetics, Molecular and Cell Biology. Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
2001 (March-April). Associate Researcher, Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A.
1999 (July-October). Associate Researcher, Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A.
1995 (August). Visiting Researcher, Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
1987 (August). Visiting Researcher, Department of Genetics, Karlovy University, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
QUALIFICATIONS
2017. National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) as Full Professor of Genetics.
2017. National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) as Full Professor of Zoology and Anthropology.
2000. National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) as Associate Professor of Genetics.
ISTITUTIONAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Since 2005. Professor of Genetics (9 CFU), degree in Biological Sciences.
Since 2007. Professor of Genetics and human biology (9 CFU) degree in Science and Technology for the Environment and Nature.
1990-2004. Assistant Professor for Genetics (Natural Sciences), Genetics I and Genetics II, Human Genetics and Experimental Biology (Biological Sciences).
MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE OF TEACHERS of the following higher education schools:
Since 2014. School of Specialization in “Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry”, University of Pavia, Italy.
Since 2011. PhD in Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Pavia coordinating the course “Evolution: from phenotypes to molecular approaches”.
2007-2011. PhD in Genetics and Bimolecular Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy, coordinating the course “Evolution”.
2005-2007. PhD in Molecular Biopathology, University of Calabria, CS, Italy.
2004-2005. School of Specialization in “Applied Genetics”, University of Pavia, Italy.
SUPERVISOR OF NUMEROUS EXPERIMENTAL THESES
Ph.D. theses in Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology; Specialization in Applied Genetics; Master in Molecular Biology and Genetics, in Experimental and Applied Biology, in Bioanalysis; Degree in Biological Sciences, in Biotechnology, in Science and Technology for the Nature.
Associate Professor of Genetics, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia (Italy). Tel: (office) +39 0382-985543. Tel: (lab) +39 0382-985544. Fax: +39 0382-528496.
e-mail: ornella.semino@unipv.it
EDUCATION
Laurea” with honor in Biological Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
PhD equivalent: “Specializzazione” with honor in Applied Genetics, University of Pavia.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Since 2005. Associate Professor of Genetics, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Italy.
Since 2011. Member of the PhD Program in Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Pavia, Italy.
Since 2015. Member of the School of Specialisation in “Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry”, University of Pavia, Italy.
2007-2010. Member of the PhD Program in Genetics and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
2005-2007. Member of the PhD Program in Molecular Biopathology, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy.
2004-2005. Member of the School of Specialization in “Applied Genetics”, University of Pavia, Italy.
1993-2004. Research Assistant, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Italy.
1989-1993. Fellow of the School of Specialisation in Applied Genetics, as ranking first in the entrance exam - Department of Genetics and Microbiology “A. Buzzati-Traverso”, University of Pavia, Italy.
1986-1989. Fellow (“Buzzati-Traverso” and “G. e L. Shenker Foundation fellowships) - Department of Genetics and Microbiology "A. Buzzati-Traverso", University of Pavia, Italy.
1985-1986. Intern at the Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, for the acquisition of the National Professional Qualification as Biologist, and teacher at Middle and High Public Schools.
1982-1984. Undergraduate Internship at the Human Genetic Lab of the Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Italy.
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY
Since 2019. Vicar President of the “Teaching Council” of Biological Sciences. Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia.
Since 2013. Member of the Joint Committee of Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia.
Since 2010. Member of the “Joint Tutoring Committee” of Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia.
2010-2014. Scientific Board Member of the Interdepartmental Centre for Gender Studies, University of Pavia.
Since 2007. Co-coordinator of the teaching activity of the Ph.D. in Genetic and Biomolecular Sciences, now Ph.D. in Genetics, Molecular and Cell Biology. Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
2001 (March-April). Associate Researcher, Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A.
1999 (July-October). Associate Researcher, Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A.
1995 (August). Visiting Researcher, Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
1987 (August). Visiting Researcher, Department of Genetics, Karlovy University, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
QUALIFICATIONS
2017. National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) as Full Professor of Genetics.
2017. National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) as Full Professor of Zoology and Anthropology.
2000. National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) as Associate Professor of Genetics.
ISTITUTIONAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Since 2005. Professor of Genetics (9 CFU), degree in Biological Sciences.
Since 2007. Professor of Genetics and human biology (9 CFU) degree in Science and Technology for the Environment and Nature.
1990-2004. Assistant Professor for Genetics (Natural Sciences), Genetics I and Genetics II, Human Genetics and Experimental Biology (Biological Sciences).
MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE OF TEACHERS of the following higher education schools:
Since 2014. School of Specialization in “Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry”, University of Pavia, Italy.
Since 2011. PhD in Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Pavia coordinating the course “Evolution: from phenotypes to molecular approaches”.
2007-2011. PhD in Genetics and Bimolecular Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy, coordinating the course “Evolution”.
2005-2007. PhD in Molecular Biopathology, University of Calabria, CS, Italy.
2004-2005. School of Specialization in “Applied Genetics”, University of Pavia, Italy.
SUPERVISOR OF NUMEROUS EXPERIMENTAL THESES
Ph.D. theses in Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology; Specialization in Applied Genetics; Master in Molecular Biology and Genetics, in Experimental and Applied Biology, in Bioanalysis; Degree in Biological Sciences, in Biotechnology, in Science and Technology for the Nature.
Her research interests include human evolution and evolutionary population genetics. Much of her work is focused on understanding origin, evolution and patterns of diffusion of human populations and is based on analyses of modern populations as well as ancient DNA. To better investigate human dispersion models, she extended her research activity to the study of the genetic variability of some animal species that, after the domestication, clearly reflects, at least in part, the history of human movements.
Her research activity started with the analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and the Male Specific Region of Y-chromosome (MSY) variation and is now extended to the analysis of the entire genome (modern and ancient). The mtDNA and MSY region, due to their uniparental transmission and absence of recombination, can provide a clear-cut pattern of population historical events from a female and a male perspective, respectively. On the other hand, only the analysis of the entire genome can provide information on the origin and admixture patters of a population.
Her scientific activity is documented by a total of 102 papers in extenso (peer-reviewed on international ISI journals including 4 papers published in Science, 2 in Nature, 1 in Nature Genetics, 1 in Nature Communications 1 Science Advance e 21 in American Journal of Human Genetics) and 2 papers in extenso published in books.
Her research activity started with the analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and the Male Specific Region of Y-chromosome (MSY) variation and is now extended to the analysis of the entire genome (modern and ancient). The mtDNA and MSY region, due to their uniparental transmission and absence of recombination, can provide a clear-cut pattern of population historical events from a female and a male perspective, respectively. On the other hand, only the analysis of the entire genome can provide information on the origin and admixture patters of a population.
Her scientific activity is documented by a total of 102 papers in extenso (peer-reviewed on international ISI journals including 4 papers published in Science, 2 in Nature, 1 in Nature Genetics, 1 in Nature Communications 1 Science Advance e 21 in American Journal of Human Genetics) and 2 papers in extenso published in books.
- Grugni V, Raveane A, Colombo G, Nici C, Crobu F, Ongaro L, Battaglia V, Sanna D, Al-Zahery N, Fiorani O, Lisa A, Ferretti L, Francalacci P, Olivieri A, Achilli A, Piazza A, Torroni A. Semino O. (2019) Y-chromosome and surname analyses for reconstructing past population structures: Sardinian population as a test case. Int J Med Sci. 20:5763.
- Ongaro L, …, Semino O, Tambets K, Kivisild T, Luiselli D, Torroni A, Capelli C, Tarazona-Santos E, Metspalu M, Pagani L, MontinaroF (2019) The genomic impact of European colonization of the Americas. Curr. Biol. 29:1-13.
- Tamm E, Di Cristofaro J, Mazières S, Pennarun E, Kushniarevich A, Raveane A, Semino O, Chiaroni J, Pereira L, Metspalu M, Montinaro F. (2019) Genome-wide analysis of Corsican population reveals a close affinity with Northern and Central Italy. Sci Rep 9:13581.
- Raveane A, Aneli S, Montinaro F, Athanasiadis G, Barlera S, Birolo G, Boncoraglio G, Di Blasio AM, Di Gaetano C, Pagani L, Parolo S, Paschou P, Piazza A, Stamatoyannopoulos G, Angius A, Brucato N, Cucca F, Hellenthal G, Mulas A, Peyret-Guzzon M, Zoledziewska M, Baali A, Bycroft C, Cherkaoui M, Chiaroni J, Di Cristofaro J, Dina C, Dugoujon JM, Galan P, Giemza J, Kivisild T, Mazieres S, Melhaoui M, Metspalu M, Myers S, Pereira L, Ricaut FX, Brisighelli F, Cardinali I, Grugni V, Lancioni H, Pascali VL, Torroni A, Semino O, Matullo G, Achilli A, Olivieri A, Capelli C. (2019) Population structure of modern-day Italians reveals patterns of ancient and archaic ancestries in Southern Europe. Sci Adv. 5(9):eaaw3492.
- Grugni V, Raveane A, Ongaro L, Battaglia V, Trombetta B, Colombo G, Capodiferro MR, Olivieri A, Achilli A, Perego UA, Motta J, Tribaldos M, Woodward SR, Ferretti L, Cruciani F, Torroni A, Semino O. (2019) Analysis of the human Y-chromosome haplogroup Q characterizes ancient population movements in Eurasia and the Americas. BMC Biol. 17(1):3.
- Achilli A, Olivieri A, Semino O, Torroni A. (2018) Ancient human genomes-keys to understanding our past. Science. 360:964-965.
- Grugni V, Raveane A, Mattioli F, Battaglia V, Sala C, Toniolo D, Ferretti L, Gardella R, Achilli A, Olivieri A, Torroni A, Passarino G, Semino O. (2018) Reconstructing the genetic history of Italians: new insights from a male (Y-chromosome) perspective. Ann Hum Biol. 45:44-56.
- Brandini S, Bergamaschi P, Cerna MF, Gandini F, Bastaroli F, Bertolini E, Cereda C, Ferretti L, Gómez-Carballa A, Battaglia V, Salas A, Semino O, Achilli A, Olivieri A, Torroni A. (2018) The Paleo-Indian entry into South America according to mitogenomes. Mol Biol Evol. 35:299-311.
- Balanovsky O, Gurianov V, Zaporozhchenko V, Balaganskaya O, Urasin V, Zhabagin M, Grugni V, Canada R, Al-Zahery N, Raveane A, Shao-Qing W, Yan S, Wang X, Zalloua P, Marafi A, Koshel S, Semino O, Tyler-Smith C, Balanovska E. (2017) Phylogeography of human Y-chromosome haplogroup Q3-L275 from an academic/citizen science collaboration. BMC Evol Biol. 17:18.
- Olivieri A, Sidore C, Achilli A, Angius A, Posth C, Furtwängler A, Brandini S, Rosario Capodiferro M, Gandini F, Zoledziewska M, Pitzalis M, Maschio A, Busonero F, Lai L, Skeates R, Giuseppina Gradoli M, Beckett J, Marongiu M, Mazzarello V, Marongiu P, Rubino S, Rito T, Macaulay V, Semino O, Pala M, Abecasis GR, Schlessinger D, Conde-Sousa E, Soares P, Richards MB, Cucca F, Torroni A. (2017) Mitogenome diversity in Sardinians: a genetic window onto an Island's past. Mol Biol Evol. 34:1230-1239.
- Battaglia V, Gabrieli P, Brandini S, Capodiferro MR, Javier PA, Chen X-G, Achilli A, Semino O, Gomulski LM, Malacrida AR, Gasperi G, Torroni1A, Olivieri1 A. (2016) The worldwide spread of the tiger mosquito as revealed by mitogenome haplogroup diversity. Front Genet. 7: 208.
- Lazaridis I, … Semino O, Shamoon-Pour M, Stefanescu G, Stumvoll M, Tonjes A, Torroni A, Wilson JF, Yengo L, Hovhannisyan NA, Patterson N, Pinhasi R, Reich D. (2016) Genomic insights into the origin of farming in the ancient Near East. Nature. 536, 419–424.
- Gandini F, Achilli A, Pala M, Bodner M, Brandini S, Huber G, Egyed B, Ferretti L, Salas A, Scozzari R, Cruciani F, Coppa A, Parson W, Semino O, Soares P, Torroni A, Richards MB, Olivieri O. (2016) Mapping human dispersals into the Horn of Africa from Arabian Ice Age refugia using whole mitogenomes. Sci Rep. 6:25472.
- Grugni V, Battaglia V, Perego UA, Raveane A, Lancioni H, Olivieri A, Ferretti L, Woodward SR, Pascale JM, Cooke R, Myres N, Motta J, Torroni A, Achilli A, Semino O. (2015) Exploring the Y-Chromosomal Ancestry of Modern Panamanians. PLoS One. 10:e0144223.
- Ongaro L, …, Semino O, Tambets K, Kivisild T, Luiselli D, Torroni A, Capelli C, Tarazona-Santos E, Metspalu M, Pagani L, MontinaroF (2019) The genomic impact of European colonization of the Americas. Curr. Biol. 29:1-13.
- Tamm E, Di Cristofaro J, Mazières S, Pennarun E, Kushniarevich A, Raveane A, Semino O, Chiaroni J, Pereira L, Metspalu M, Montinaro F. (2019) Genome-wide analysis of Corsican population reveals a close affinity with Northern and Central Italy. Sci Rep 9:13581.
- Raveane A, Aneli S, Montinaro F, Athanasiadis G, Barlera S, Birolo G, Boncoraglio G, Di Blasio AM, Di Gaetano C, Pagani L, Parolo S, Paschou P, Piazza A, Stamatoyannopoulos G, Angius A, Brucato N, Cucca F, Hellenthal G, Mulas A, Peyret-Guzzon M, Zoledziewska M, Baali A, Bycroft C, Cherkaoui M, Chiaroni J, Di Cristofaro J, Dina C, Dugoujon JM, Galan P, Giemza J, Kivisild T, Mazieres S, Melhaoui M, Metspalu M, Myers S, Pereira L, Ricaut FX, Brisighelli F, Cardinali I, Grugni V, Lancioni H, Pascali VL, Torroni A, Semino O, Matullo G, Achilli A, Olivieri A, Capelli C. (2019) Population structure of modern-day Italians reveals patterns of ancient and archaic ancestries in Southern Europe. Sci Adv. 5(9):eaaw3492.
- Grugni V, Raveane A, Ongaro L, Battaglia V, Trombetta B, Colombo G, Capodiferro MR, Olivieri A, Achilli A, Perego UA, Motta J, Tribaldos M, Woodward SR, Ferretti L, Cruciani F, Torroni A, Semino O. (2019) Analysis of the human Y-chromosome haplogroup Q characterizes ancient population movements in Eurasia and the Americas. BMC Biol. 17(1):3.
- Achilli A, Olivieri A, Semino O, Torroni A. (2018) Ancient human genomes-keys to understanding our past. Science. 360:964-965.
- Grugni V, Raveane A, Mattioli F, Battaglia V, Sala C, Toniolo D, Ferretti L, Gardella R, Achilli A, Olivieri A, Torroni A, Passarino G, Semino O. (2018) Reconstructing the genetic history of Italians: new insights from a male (Y-chromosome) perspective. Ann Hum Biol. 45:44-56.
- Brandini S, Bergamaschi P, Cerna MF, Gandini F, Bastaroli F, Bertolini E, Cereda C, Ferretti L, Gómez-Carballa A, Battaglia V, Salas A, Semino O, Achilli A, Olivieri A, Torroni A. (2018) The Paleo-Indian entry into South America according to mitogenomes. Mol Biol Evol. 35:299-311.
- Balanovsky O, Gurianov V, Zaporozhchenko V, Balaganskaya O, Urasin V, Zhabagin M, Grugni V, Canada R, Al-Zahery N, Raveane A, Shao-Qing W, Yan S, Wang X, Zalloua P, Marafi A, Koshel S, Semino O, Tyler-Smith C, Balanovska E. (2017) Phylogeography of human Y-chromosome haplogroup Q3-L275 from an academic/citizen science collaboration. BMC Evol Biol. 17:18.
- Olivieri A, Sidore C, Achilli A, Angius A, Posth C, Furtwängler A, Brandini S, Rosario Capodiferro M, Gandini F, Zoledziewska M, Pitzalis M, Maschio A, Busonero F, Lai L, Skeates R, Giuseppina Gradoli M, Beckett J, Marongiu M, Mazzarello V, Marongiu P, Rubino S, Rito T, Macaulay V, Semino O, Pala M, Abecasis GR, Schlessinger D, Conde-Sousa E, Soares P, Richards MB, Cucca F, Torroni A. (2017) Mitogenome diversity in Sardinians: a genetic window onto an Island's past. Mol Biol Evol. 34:1230-1239.
- Battaglia V, Gabrieli P, Brandini S, Capodiferro MR, Javier PA, Chen X-G, Achilli A, Semino O, Gomulski LM, Malacrida AR, Gasperi G, Torroni1A, Olivieri1 A. (2016) The worldwide spread of the tiger mosquito as revealed by mitogenome haplogroup diversity. Front Genet. 7: 208.
- Lazaridis I, … Semino O, Shamoon-Pour M, Stefanescu G, Stumvoll M, Tonjes A, Torroni A, Wilson JF, Yengo L, Hovhannisyan NA, Patterson N, Pinhasi R, Reich D. (2016) Genomic insights into the origin of farming in the ancient Near East. Nature. 536, 419–424.
- Gandini F, Achilli A, Pala M, Bodner M, Brandini S, Huber G, Egyed B, Ferretti L, Salas A, Scozzari R, Cruciani F, Coppa A, Parson W, Semino O, Soares P, Torroni A, Richards MB, Olivieri O. (2016) Mapping human dispersals into the Horn of Africa from Arabian Ice Age refugia using whole mitogenomes. Sci Rep. 6:25472.
- Grugni V, Battaglia V, Perego UA, Raveane A, Lancioni H, Olivieri A, Ferretti L, Woodward SR, Pascale JM, Cooke R, Myres N, Motta J, Torroni A, Achilli A, Semino O. (2015) Exploring the Y-Chromosomal Ancestry of Modern Panamanians. PLoS One. 10:e0144223.
No projects are available to students for the current accademic year.