Kaja Ziółkowska, M.Sc., PhD candidate
PhD spervisor: prof. dr hab. Brygida Ślaska
Disciplne:  animal science and fisheries

This work was funded by the National Science Centre grant OPUS-18 No 2019/35/B/NZ5/00775.

„Mitochondrial genomics and epigenetics of malignant mammary tumors in dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)”

Malignancies of the mammary gland belong to a highly heterogeneous group of diseases. Additionally, they are among one of the most frequently diagnosed tumours of bitches. The study will include genomic and epigenetic  analyses (methylation level) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of dogs diagnosed with mammary malignancy based on histopathological analyses.

The proposed research hypotheses indicate that there are differences in methylation patterns, as well as there are differences in whole genome mtDNA sequences between malignant mammary tumours and healthy tissue of dogs, which may be linked to the process of neoplastic transformation.

It is not excluded that the results obtained in this dissertation will able the understanding of the factors contribuing to the cancer development, the molecular basis of the disease, as well as the development of new diagnostic techniques and improvements in the husbandry and breeding of dogs. The possible defects observed in the mtDNA genome will contribute to a better understanding of the etiopathogenesis of canine malignant tumors.