Collegium de Lyon
France
fellow
Diego Cortez
2026-2027
Home institution
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
Country of origin (home institution)
Mexico
Discipline(s)
Biology
Theme(s)
Other
Fellowship dates
›
Biography
Diego Cortez studied biology in Mexico before completing a PhD in France on archaeal genomes. He then undertook postdoctoral research in Switzerland, focusing on the Y chromosome. He is now a researcher at UNAM in Mexico, where his work focuses on the evolution of sex chromosomes and the mechanisms of ageing.
Research Project
Evolution of sex chromosomes in reptiles and population genetics of endangered bird species
This project has two main parts. The first investigates the evolution of dosage compensation mechanisms in reptiles, focusing on sex chromosome differentiation. It aims to understand how non-coding RNAs (like the recently discovered MAYEX) regulate sex chromosome expression in iguanian lizards. Using genomic analyses (synteny, expression, epigenetic marks, chromatin structure), the study will explore the conservation of these RNA systems across species and how the X chromosome sequence is specifically recognized for dosage compensation. The second part applies conservation genomics to endangered seabirds: the Blue-footed Booby and two shearwater species. Using population genetics, it will quantify genome-wide diversity and inbreeding, identify genomic regions with high genetic load, and detect signals of local adaptation linked to environmental conditions to inform conservation strategies.
Research Interests:
sex chromosomes; genetics; Genomics