We are proud to announce that our colleague Zehra Duygu DÜZGÜNEŞ has successfully completed her PhD thesis titled:
“Development of Species-Specific SNP Markers for Horse Mackerel Distributed in Turkish Seas Using Genome Sequencing Techniques.”

📚 Supervised by Prof. Dr. Serkan GÜL and Prof. Dr. Yusuf BEKTAŞ, this study focused on three Horse Mackerel species (Trachurus trachurus, T. mediterraneus, T. picturatus) native to Turkish waters, applying both Illumina and Nanopore sequencing platforms to reveal genome-wide SNP variations.

🔬 As part of the study, a fluorogenic probe-based PCR test was successfully developed, offering a fast, reliable, and applicable genetic tool for species discrimination and the detection of hybrid individuals, allowing deeper insight into complex stock structures.

📖 The thesis has already led to the publication of an SCI-indexed article:
“Genome‐wide SNP Detection in the Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus, T. mediterraneus, T. picturatus) of Turkish Waters Using Illumina and Nanopore Sequencing.”

This work is expected to contribute significantly to stock assessment, species management, and the conservation of genetic resources in the context of sustainable fisheries and blue economy goals.

We congratulate our colleague and wish her continued success in her scientific journey.