Dr Giannoulis Themistoklis holds a Degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology of University of Thessaly. His MSc concerns the applications of Biotechnology in environmental and nutrinional studies. His PhD was in the field of Evolutionary Genetics of the European hare (Lepus europaeus) and more specifically in the contribution of oxidative phosphorylation genes to mechanisms of reproductive isolation and speciation.
His research interests concern Population Genetics and Genomics and their applications in the field of Genetic Improvement of animal husbandry species. The study of the mechanisms of adaptation of these species to the heat stress, which is a consequence of climate change, is of particular importance for the viability of the production units and for ensuring the welfare of the animals. To this end, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) methods are applied in combination with bioinformatics analyzes, providing the possibility of a holistic approach and study of the biological mechanisms responsible for the appearance of the desired animal phenotypes. In addition, his research interests concern the study of the genetic diversity of indigenous breeds, which have unique characteristics and their preservation is a primary goal, as they are irreplaceable sources of biodiversity and contribute to the production of products with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), with special economic value for the country.
