Arturo Becerra

e-mail: abcerra@stat.rice.edu
abb@fciencias.unam.mx

I am interested in the study of the origin and early evolution of life, particularly in the analysis of microbial genomes for the understanding of the evolution and assembly of basic metabolic pathways and the main mechanisms participating
in this process (horizontal gene transfer, gene duplication, simple sequences).

Currently I am a tenured Assistant Professor at the College of Sciences (Facultad de Ciencias), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), in the Microbiology Laboratory directed by Dr. Antonio Lazcano. My main research field is the study of the origin and early evolution of life employing bioinformatics tools. Actually, I am a postdoctoral fellow, working with Dr. Janet Siefert, analyzing genomes of the gram-positive bacteria.

Educational work is also an important part of my academic life. Accordingly, one of my main objectives is teaching courses at all academic levels (B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph. D). I also intend to create new and innovative courses in molecular evolution and bioinformatics. Since increasing the number of students of the sciences in Mexico is a priority, the popularization of science constitutes another one of my central activities
PERSONAL DETAILS

Name: Arturo Carlos II Becerra Bracho
Date Of Birth: 25 September 1969.
Place Of Birth: Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Nationality: Mexican
Civil State: Married

Address: 3831 N. Braeswood
Houston, TX 77025

Adress in Mexico: Av. Del IMAN 580 Edificio Vancouver 304
Col. Pedregal de Carrasco C.P. 04700. México D.F.

Telephone (Laboratory): 713-348-3685
(52) 5622-48-23 (in Mexico)

e-mail: abcerra@stat.rice.edu
abb@fciencias.unam.mx
EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS

B. Sc. Biology: Graduate in Biology.
Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas
University of Guadalajara
Guadalajara Jal., Mexico (1989-1993)

MASTER: Master in Sciences (Biology)
Facultad de Ciencias
Autonomous National University of Mexico
Mexico, D.F. (1995-1997)

PhD: Doctor in Sciences (Biology)
Facultad de Ciencias
Autonomous National University of Mexico
Mexico, D.F. (1997-2000)

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Publications

1) Becerra, A., Islas, S., Leguina, J., Silva, E. and Lazcano, A.
Polyphyletic gene losses can bias bactrack characterizations of the cenancestor,
Journal Molecular of Evolution 45: 115-118 (1997)

2) Becerra, A. and Lazcano, A.
The role of gene duplication in the evolution of purine nucleotide salvage pathways
Origin of life and the Evolution of the Biosphere 28:539-553 (1998)

3) Islas, S., Becerra, A., Leguina, J. and Lazcano, A.
Early metabolic evolution: insights from comparative cellular genomics.
In Chela-Flores, J. and Raulin, F. (Eds.). (1998). Exobiology: Matter,
Energy, and Information in the Origin and Evolution of Life in the Universe.
Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, TheNetherlands. 167-174

4) Pereto J. G., Velasco A. M., Becerra A. And Lazcano A.
Comparative Biochemistry Of Co2 Fixation And The Evolution OfAutotrophy,
International. Microbiology 2: 3-10 (1999)

5) Becerra-Bracho, A., Silva, E., Velasco, A.M., And Lazcano, A.
Molecular Biology and the reconstruction of Microbial Phylogenies: Do give Liasons Dangereus?. In J. Chela-Flores, G. Lemerchand, and J. Gold (eds). Astrobiology: Origins from the Big-Bang to Civilisation (2000)
Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands 135-150

6) Iturbe, U., Becerra, A. , And Lazcano, A.
The Search For The Last Common Ancestor: reading the molecular evidence (2001) In J. Tran Thanh Van., K. Tran Thanh, and L. Celniker (ed)
Frontiers of Life Gif-south-Yvette, FRANCE

7) Martínez - Pérez, Becerra A. , Valdés J., Zinker S., and Aréchiga H.
To possible molecular ancestor for mollusk APGWamide, insect Adipokinetic Hormone and the crustacean Net Pigment Concentraing Hormone
Journal Molecular Evolution 54:703-714 (2002)

8) Delaye L., Becerra A. , And Lazcano.
The Nature Of The Last Common Ancestor. In Pouplana Lluis R, (Editor), The Genetic Code And The Origin Of Life. The Scripps Research Institute, Landes Bioscience Publishers, USA 2003

9) Islas S., Velasco Am., Becerra A. , Delaye L., And Lazcano A.
Hyperthermophily And The Origin And Early Evolution Of Life
International. Microbiology 6: 87-94 (2003)

10) Islas S., Becerra, A. , Luigui P.L., And Lazcano
To Comparative Genomics And The Gene Complement Of To Minimal Cell Origin Of Life And The Evolution Of The Biosphere 34: 243-256 (2004)

11) Jimenez L. Becerra A. Estrada F. And Landa A.
Cloning, Expression And Partial Characterization Of Gene Encoding Taenia Solium S15 Ribosomal Protein.
Journal Of Parasitology 92 : 414-420 (2004)

12) Valverde C., Orozco A., Becerra A., Jeziorski M., Villalobos P., And Solís C., Evolutionary Perspectives Of Dehalogenases
International Review Of Cytology 234:143-185 (2004)

Education/ Public Outreach

More than 50 public lecture and 23 courses, the last one, in the Astrobiology Course for teachers, Open Community Lecture, February 25 2004, Rice University


.