Professional Information

Professional degree

Bioengineer, Universidad de Concepción.

Academic degree

Licenciado en Bioingeniería. 2008. Universidad de Concepción.

Bachiller en Ciencias Biológicas. 2006. Universidad de Concepción.

Currently pursuing graduate studies at the Austral University Program for graduating as Master in Plant Sciences.

Research Interest

My interest is focused on identifying genes involved in the biosynthesis of antinutritionals in yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus), especially those associated with the production of phytic acid. Phytic acid is a chelating compound of phosphorus and other essential minerals, which limits the bioavailability of these nutrients and increases phosphorous pollution.

Through the study of genetic variability present in a large collection of L. luteus, we aim to identify genetic variants that allow us to manipulate the contents of phytic acid and other antinutritionals in this species. To achieve this, we are using the candidate gene approach and association mapping coupled with statistical tools for reducing false-positive results. All this, with the ultimate goal of helping to efficient generation of modern cultivars of L. luteus nutritionally specialized in various areas of human and animal feed.

Publications

Parra-Gonzalez Lorena, Aravena-Abarzua Gabriela, Navarro-Navarro Cristell, Udall Joshua, Maugham Peter, Peterson Louis, Salvo-Garrido Haroldo, Maureira Butler Iván (2012) Yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) transcriptome sequencing: molecular marker development and comparative studies. BMC Genomics 13:425. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-13-425

Braulio J. Soto-Cerda, Rodrigo A. Carrasco, Gabriela A. Aravena, Hector A. Urbina, Cristell S. Navarro. 2010. Identifying novel polymorphic microsatellites from cultivated flax (Linum ussitatisimum L.) following data mining. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter. DOI: 10.1007/s11105-010-0270-5

Presentación de Pósters

Primer Workshop Internacional CGNA (Centro de Genómica Nutricional Agro-Acuícola). Temuco, Región de la Araucanía (Agosto, 2008).

Título Póster: "Identification and characterization of genes related to the biosynthetic pathway of phytic acid in yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus)". Aravena, G., Salvo, H., Maureira, I.

LI Reunión Anual Sociedad de Biología de Chile. Pucón, Región de la Araucanía, (Noviembre, 2008). Título Póster: Identification and characterization of genes related to the content of phytic acid in yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus). Aravena, G., Salvo, H., Maureira, I.

VII Simposio de Recursos Genéticos para América Latina y el Caribe. Pucón, Región de la Araucanía (Octubre, 2009). Título Póster: "Associative mapping of phytic acid and alphagalactosides content, two key plant anti-nutritionals, in yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus)". Aravena, G., Petterson, L., Amiard, V., Salvo, H., Maureira, I.