Overview:
Dr. Rafiqi is broadly interested in exploring how development integrates genetic and environmental inputs into the phenotype - the primary target of natural selection. He uses insects because they are the most speciose eukaryotic organisms on the planet and possess a remarkable degree of morphological, physiological and behavioral diversity. Dr. Rafiqi expands upon the rapid advances in the field of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) in the past few decades wherein the developmental genetic basis of this diversity in insects was studied in detail. More specifically, he wants to integrate the role of ecology and the role of developmental endosymbiosis into the study of morphological evolution.
Affiliations:
Bezmialem Vakıf University, Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology.
Education:
2002–2008
| PhD, The University of Chicago, Chicago, USA / Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
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2000–2002
| MSc, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
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1995–1999
| BSc, SK University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, India.
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Area of Expertise:
- Ecological Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Eco-Evo-Devo).
- Developmental Endosymbiosis.
Research Interests:
- Molecular mechanisms of major evolutionary transitions.
- Role of developmental gene regulatory networks in the evolution of life with special reference to the developmental integration of endosymbionts into the host cells.
- The role of endosymbionts in regulating host genes to their advantage or to the benefit of their mutualism.
Awards / Honors:
- Ramalingaswami Re-entry fellowship, awarded by: Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of INDIA, Oct 2017.
- QCBS Excellence Award, Biodiversity Studies, awarded by: Quebec Center for Biodiversity Research, CANADA, 28 Sep 2015.
- QCBS Excellence Award, Biodiversity Research, awarded by: Quebec Center for Biodiversity Research, CANADA, 25 May 2014.
- University Fellowships Program, Biotechnology, awarded by: The Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Non Included institution in the system), NETHERLANDS 01 Aug 2000.
Publications (selected):
- Rafiqi, A. M., Rajakumar, A. and Abouheif, E. (2020). Origin and elaboration of a major evolutionary transition in individuality. Nature 585, 239-244.
- Abouheif, E., Fave, M. J., Ibarraran-Viniegra, A. S., Lesoway, M. P., Rafiqi, A. M. and Rajakumar, R. (2014). Eco-evo-devo: the time has come. Adv Exp Med Biol. 781, 107-125.
- Abouheif, E. and Rafiqi, A. M. (2014). Sex combs find middle ground in evolution debate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111, 14011-14012.
- Rafiqi, A. M., Lemke, S., Ferguson, S., Stauber, M. and Schmidt-Ott, U. (2008). Evolutionary origin of the amnioserosa in cyclorrhaphan flies correlates with spatial and temporal expression changes of zen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105, 234-239.
- Rafiqi, A. M., Lemke, S. and Schmidt-Ott, U. (2010). Postgastrular zen expression is required to develop distinct amniotic and serosal epithelia in the scuttle fly Megaselia. Dev Biol 341, 282-290.
- Rafiqi, A. M., Park, C. H., Kwan, C. W., Lemke, S. and Schmidt-Ott, U. (2012). BMP-dependent serosa and amnion specification in the scuttle fly Megaselia abdita. Development 139, 3373-3382.
- Schmidt-Ott, U., Rafiqi, A. M. and Lemke, S. (2010). Hox3/zen and the evolution of extraembryonic epithelia in insects. Adv Exp Med Biol 689, 133-144.
- Schmidt-Ott, U., Rafiqi, A. M., Sander, K. and Johnston, J. S. (2009). Extremely small genomes in two unrelated dipteran insects with shared early developmental traits. Dev. Genes Evol. 219, 207-210.
- Alarcon, M.E., Polo, P.G., Akyüz, S.N., Rafiqi, A.M. (2022) Evolution and ontogeny of bacteriocytes in insects. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 2482
- Polo, P.G., Çolak-Al, B., Sentürk, H., Rafiqi A.M. (2022) Gut bacteria after recovery from COVID-19: a pilot study, European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 26: 8599-8611
- Rafiqi A.M, Polo P.G., Milat N.S., Durmuş Z.Ö, Çolak-Al B., Alarcón M.E., Çağıl F.Z., Rajakumar A. (2022) Developmental Integration of Endosymbionts in Insects. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
- Pontieri, L., Rajakumar, A., Rafiqi, A.M., Larsen, R.S., Abouheif, E., Zhang, G. (2020) From egg to adult: a developmental table of the ant Monomorium pharaonis. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 2020.12. 22.423970
Methodologies:
- Rafiqi A. M., Lemke S, Schmidt-Ott U. (2011). Megaselia abdita: culturing and egg collection. Cold Spring Harbor protocols 2011, pdb prot5600.
- Rafiqi A. M., Lemke S, Schmidt-Ott U. (2011). Megaselia abdita: cuticle preparation from injected embryos. Cold Spring Harbor protocols 2011, pdb prot5603.
- Rafiqi A. M., Lemke S, Schmidt-Ott U. (2011). Megaselia abdita: fixing and devitellinizing embryos. Cold Spring Harbor protocols 2011, pdb prot5602.
- Rafiqi A. M., Lemke S, Schmidt-Ott U. (2011). Megaselia abdita: preparing embryos for injection. Cold Spring Harbor protocols 2011, pdb prot5601.
- Rafiqi A. M., Lemke S, Schmidt-Ott U. (2011). The scuttle fly Megaselia abdita (Phoridae): a link between Drosophila and Mosquito development. Cold Spring Harbor protocols 2011, pdb emo143.
Grants (ongoing):
- TUBITAK BIDEB 2247-A National Leading Researchers program (2021-2024).
- BAP, The origin and developmental basis of obligate endosymbiosis in insects.
- BAP, Identification of microbiome of Turkish populations, pilot study.
- BAP, Characterization of fungal endosymbionts of bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) and their relation with pathogens.
- BAP, Mechanism of segregation of endosymbiont between midgut epithelium and gonad.
- BAP, Experimental studies on the effect of antibiotics on early development of Cicadellidae.
- BAP, BMP signaling in Camponotus floridanus and its alteration in the presence of obligate endosymbionts.
- TUBITAK BIDEB 2247-A National Leading Researchers Program (2021-2024)
- TUBITAK ARDEB 1001 Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program (2023-2026)
Contact Info:
Email: m.rafiqi@bezmialem.edu.tr
