Sofia Ainatzi

EDUCATION

College / University

National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Subjects

Biology

ainatzi

Country

Greece

Lab Experience

DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, nested PCR, RT-qPCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, transformation/cloning, plasmid DNA extraction, gel extraction, human cell culture, ELISA, fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy.

Projects / Research

  • 10/2014 – 05/2015 "Detection of protein factors involved in the unorhodox phenomenon of Double Uniparental Inheritance of mtDNA in bivalve mollusks", Prof. G. C. Rodakis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • 10/2016 – 05/2017 "Investigation of the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in severe asthma", Dr G. Xanthou Group, Basic Research Center of Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens

Scholarships / Awards

2017 – 2018: Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

Eukaryotic genomic DNA falls into two broad categories: coding DNA and non-coding DNA(ncDNA). A large fraction – in some cases the majority – of human and other genomes consists of ncDNA. This finding shifted the attraction from protein-coding sequences to ncDNA. I am highly intersted in the evolution and functionality of ncDNA. Additionally, I am highly fascinated by protein folding.