Liliana Milani

I study the processes that control germline formation, mitochondrial inheritance, and longevity.

The study of the germline is fundamental to understand which mitochondria are inherited and whether there is a phenotype that favors their segregation into gametes; at the same time mitochondria contribute to the formation of the germ plasm and therefore to germ cell specification.

More recently, I have been studying longevity, to understand how it has evolved and to which extent the mechanisms underlying extended longevity are shared in different animal groups.

I study different animals with a comparative approach, using data both on classic model species and non-model species.

I am currently PI of a project on sex determination in bivalves (MUR – PRIN22) (2023-25).

I was PI of the project “Mitochondria, Germ Line and Sex” (MINGLE) (MIUR – SIR 2014) (2015-2018).

Since 2015 I have been Associate editor of Genome Biology and Evolution.