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Nous introduisons un ensemble de modèles à facteurs latents dédié à la génomique du paysage et aux tests d'associations écologiques. Cela comprend des méthodes statistiques pour corriger des effets d'autocorrélation spatiale sur les cartes de composantes principales en génétique des populations (spFA), des méthodes pour estimer rapidement et efficacement les coefficients de métissage individuel à partir de matrices de génotypes de grande taille et évaluer le nombre de populations ancestrales (sNMF) et des méthodes pour identifier les polymorphismes génétiques qui montrent de fortes corrélations avec des gradients environnementaux ou avec des variables utilisées comme des indicateurs pour des pressions écologiques (LFMM). Nous avons aussi développé un ensemble de logiciels libres associés à ces méthodes, basés sur des programmes optimisés en C qui peuvent passer à l'échelle avec la dimension de très grand jeu de données, afin d'effectuer des analyses de structures de population et des cribles génomiques pour l'adaptation locale. / We introduce a set of latent factor models dedicated to landscape genomics and ecological association tests. It includes statistical methods for correcting principal component maps for effects of spatial autocorrelation (spFA); methods for estimating ancestry coefficients from large genotypic matrices and evaluating the number of ancestral populations (sNMF); and methods for identifying genetic polymorphisms that exhibit high correlation with some environmental gradient or with the variables used as proxies for ecological pressures (LFMM). We also developed a set of open source softwares associated with the methods, based on optimized C programs that can scale with the dimension of very large data sets, to run analyses of population structure and genome scans for local adaptation.

Humanity has always dreamed about a better world. These dreams has manifested themselves in the vision of Utopia - the good place, but also the non-existing place. Up until World War II man still wrote optimistic descriptions of this ideal world, and spread the idea through literature. In the aftermath of the atomic bomb and under the influence of the cold war, these publications seized to surface in literary surroundings. Despite this utopia did not die - it has only changed. Today you can find utopia, not primarily in books, but in Science Fiction. TV’s biggest Science Fiction-series, Star Trek, is perhaps the best example of this. The Master's thesis "Utopia Trek - a travel through Star Trek with the concept of utopia" takes you through the history of utopia and into its new habitat, Star Trek, where the essence of a utopia for the 21th century is found, discussed and reevaluated. / Mänskligheten har alltid drömt om en bättre värld. Dessa drömmar har manifesterats i visionen om Utopia - den goda platsen, men också platsen som inte existerar. Fram till andra världskriget skrev man fortfarande optimistiska beskrivningar av denna idealvärld, och spred idén via litteraturen. Efter hotet från atombomben och under påverkan av det kalla kriget, slutade dessa publikationer att dyka uppi litterära sammanhang. Trots detta dog inte drömmen utopia - det har bara förändrats. Idag kan man finna utopia, inte företrädesvis i böcker, utan i science fiction. Tv:s största science fiction-serie, Star Trek, är kanske det bästa exemplet på detta. Magisteruppsatsen "Utopia Trek - utopibegreppets resa genom Star Trek" tar dig genom utopias historia och in i dess nya hemvist, Star Trek, där essensen av ett utopia för 2000-talet upptäcks, diskuteras och omvärderas.

Introdução: A variação genética em genes que codificam a absorção, distribuição, metabolismo e excreção (ADME) de medicamentos frequentemente afeta a farmacocinética da droga e resulta na variabilidade da eficácia e segurança do medicamento. No entanto, a frequência da variação genética nos genes ADME diferem entre as populações. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as variações genéticas nos genes ADME nos pacientes brasileiros portadores do vírus da hepatite C e comparar com outros bancos de dados (1000 Genomes Project e Exome Aggregation Consortium). Métodos: Um total de 147 genes ADME foram genotipados em 100 amostras por sequenciamento de DNA genômico usando SureSelectXT (Agilent) e MiSeq, NextSeq (Illumina). Resultados: Um total de 2004 SNPs em 147 genes foram analisados, incluindo enzimas de fase I (n=50), enzimas de fase II (n=37) e transportadores (n=60). Uma coleção de variantes genéticas indica que há pelo menos 2 vezes mais variações do que semelhanças entre os pacientes com hepatite C e os principais grupos continentais. Estas diferenças foram observadas em vários genes relevantes, incluindo CYP1A2, CYP3A4, NAT2, ABCB1 e SLCO1B1. Além disso, pacientes auto declarados como branco, pardo, negro e asiático também apresentaram diferenças de frequência alélica quando comparados à europeus, americanos mixos, africanos e asiáticos nos polimorfismos dos genes CYP1A1, CYP2B6, GSTP1 e ABCG2, respectivamente. Conclusão: Concluímos que os pacientes com hepatite C tem uma frequência alélica de genes ADME diferente dos outros bancos de dados. Embora a personalização do tratamento medicamentoso com base no genótipo individual, e não na etnia, possa ser a mais apropriada, as diferenças nas frequências alélicas entre os continentes devem ser consideradas ao projetar ensaios clínicos de novos medicamentos / Background: Genetic variation in genes encoding drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) proteins often affects the drug pharmacokinetics and results in variability in drug efficacy and safety. However, the frequency of genetic variation in the ADME genes differ among populations. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic variations in the ADME genes in Brazilian patients with hepatitis C and to compare to other databases (1000 Genomes Project e Exome Aggregation Consortium). Methods: A total of 147 ADME were genotyped in 100 samples from Brazil by targeted genomic DNA sequencing using SureSelectXT (Agilent) and MiSeq, NextSeq (Illumina). Results: A total of 2004 SNPs in 147 genes that were analyzed, including phase I enzymes (n=50), phase II enzymes (n=37), drug transporters (n=60). We provide a collection of genetic variants that indicate that there are at least 2-times more variation than similarities between patients with hepatitis C and major continental groups. These differences were observed in several relevant genes including CYP1A2, CYP3A4, NAT2, ABCB1 and SLCO1B1. Moreover, white, brown, black and Asian self-reported patients also showed allele frequency differences when compared to European, mixed American, African and Asian for polymorphisms of the genes CYP1A1, CYP2B6, GSTP1 and ABCG2. respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that the hepatitis C patients has an allele frequency of ADME genes different from other data bases. While personalization of drug treatment based on individual genotype rather than ethnicity may be more appropriate, differences in allelic frequencies across continents should be considered when designing clinical trials of new drugs

INTRODUÇÃO: A microbiota intestinal tem sido alvo de diversos estudos moleculares, principalmente através da introdução de plataformas de sequenciamento de nova geração, devido à sua importância e amplo relacionamento com o hospedeiro humano. Entretanto, o armazenamento de amostras fecais antes da extração do DNA é crítico ao caracterizar a composição da microbiota intestinal. Com base nesses dados, o presente estudo buscou compreender os efeitos de diferentes métodos de armazenamento de amostras fecais para caracterizar a microbiota intestinal através do sequenciamento da nova geração, bem como estabelecer um método alternativo de conservação do material genético bacteriano nessas amostras, utilizando guanidina. MÉTODO: Foram coletadas amostras de fezes de 10 voluntários saudáveis. Cada amostra foi dividida em cinco alíquotas, uma alíquota extraída imediatamente após a coleta (fresca) e duas alíquotas submetidas ao congelamento, à temperaturas de -20°C e -80°C e extraídas após 48 horas. As outras duas alíquotas restantes foram armazenadas em guanidina à temperatura ambiente e a 4°C e extraídas após 48 horas. Para observar a presença de alterações na microbiota intestinal, durante um período de armazenamento maior das amostras de fezes, três amostras foram armazenadas em guanidina à temperatura ambiente e a 4ºC e extraídas após o período de 60 dias. A região hipervariável v4 do gene 16S rRNA bacteriano foi amplificada por PCR. Os amplicons gerados foram sequenciados utilizando a plataforma Ion PGM Torrent e os dados analisados utilizando o software QIIME. A determinação da significância estatística foi realizada utilizando-se o teste não-paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas em nenhum dos níveis taxonômicos (filo, classe, família, ordem e gênero) entre amostras frescas analisadas e os métodos de armazenamento testados. As análises de coordenadas principais (PCoA) mostraram que as amostras se agruparam de acordo com os indivíduos analisados, tendo as amostras referentes a cada indivíduo agrupado-se com maior proximidade do que com outras amostras do mesmo grupo de armazenamento. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos dados sugerem que o congelamento e o uso de guanidina para armazenamento de amostras de fezes, para a caracterização da microbiota intestinal, podem efetivamente preservar o material genético bacteriano nessas amostras ao longo de um período de 48 horas para amostras submetidas ao congelamento e durante 60 dias para amostras armazenadas em guanidina / INTRODUCTION: The gut microbiota has been the target of several molecular studies, mainly through the introduction of next generation sequencing platforms, due to its importance and wide relationship with the human host. However, the storage of fecal samples prior to DNA extraction is critical when characterizing the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Based on these facts, the present study aimed to understand the effects of different methods of storage of fecal samples to characterize the intestinal microbiota by next generation sequence, as well as establishing an alternative conservation method of the bacterial genetic material in these samples using guanidine. METHODS: Stool samples from 10 healthy volunteers were collected. Each collected sample was divided into five aliquots, one aliquot extracted immediately after collection (fresh) and two aliquots subjected to freezing at -20°C and -80°C temperatures and extracted after 48 hours. The others two remaining aliquots were stored in guanidine at room temperature and at 4°C and extracted after 48 hours. In order to observe the presence of alterations in the intestinal microbiota, during a longer storage period of the stool samples, three samples were stored in guanidine at room temperature and at 4°C and extracted after 60 day period. The v4 hypervariable region of bacterial and archeal 16S rRNA gene were amplified by PCR. The generated amplicons were sequenced using Ion PGM Torrent platform and the data analyzed using the software QIIME. Determination of statistical significance was performed using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in any of the taxonomic levels (phylum, class, family, order and genus) between analyzed fresh samples and the others different storage methods. The principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) unweighted showed that the samples clustered based on the host each sample originated from, rather than by storage group. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that both freezing and the use of guanidine to store stool samples for gut microbiota characterization can effectively preserve the bacterial genetic material in these samples over a 48 hours period for samples subjected to freezing and for up to 60 days for samples stored in guanidine

The present study aimed to evaluate bacterial isolates and the microbiome of dairies. The specific aims were: to characterize Staphylococcus spp. isolated from mastitic milk, to evaluate the presence of Lactococcus in mastitic milk as a potential causative agent of mastitis, to evaluate the association between microbiome and milk quality parameters, and to characterize Staphylococcus spp. isolated from production lines of Minas Frescal cheese. The detection of genes encoding virulence factors (enterotoxins (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh, sei, selj, selk, sell, selm, seln, selo, selp, seIq, ser, ses, set, selu, selv, and selx), hemolysins (hla, hlb, hld, hlg, and hlgv), exfoliative toxins (eta, etb, and etd), Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), and toxic shock syndrome toxin (tst)), genes encoding antibiotic resistance (resistance to tetracycline (tetK, tetL, and tetM), erythromycin (ermA, ermB, and ermC), methicillin (mecA and mecC), and tobramycin (ant(4\')-Ia)), molecular typing (spa, SCCmec, and agr types), and phenotyping regarding antibiotic resistance were performed in staphylococci isolates from mastitic milk, and from cheese processing plant samples. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in the majority of isolates from both origins. Several virulence factor genes were detected. The distribution of genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins (85.0% - 85.7% of isolates were positive for one or more enterotoxin gene) was highlighted and the gene related to H toxin was the most prevalent. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were identified in isolates from mastitic milk (4.1%) and cheese processing (6.0%); the genotyping and phenotyping of these isolates were described. t605 had the highest frequency in the S. aureus population studied. In mastitic milk, Lactococcus was suggested as the causative agent of an outbreak of mastitis in a dairy farm. Using next generation sequencing, the abundance of Lactococcus was observed in microbiome samples. Bacterial isolation and DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of Lactococcus lactis and Lactococcus garvieae. The microbiome of environmental samples and bulk tank milk from the dairy farm showed the Lactococcus genus among the most common bacterial taxa, suggesting other sources of this genus. Regarding milk quality parameters, the microbiome of bulk tank milk from several dairy farms was associated with somatic cell count and bacterial count. The core microbiome was described and many genera of importance were identified. Among the associations performed between microbiome and milk quality parameters, the identification of Streptococcus in samples classified with high somatic cell count and high bacterial count was highlighted. Several bacterial taxa with relative abundance significantly higher in samples classified as high and low cell count and bacterial count were shown. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was also performed associated with bacterial diversity, bacterial taxa, and bacterial count. These findings highlight the need to control and prevent bacterial contamination in the dairy industry, from herd to consumers. / O presente estudo apresentou como objetivo avaliar isolados bacterianos e microbioma de lácteos. Os objetivos específicos foram: caracterizar Staphylococcus spp. isolados de leite de vacas com mastite, avaliar a presença de Lactococcus em leite de vacas com mastite como um potencial agente causador de mastite, avaliar a associação entre microbioma de leite de tanque e parâmetros da qualidade de leite, e caracterizar Staphylococcus spp. isolados de linhas de processamento de queijo Minas frescal. A detecção de genes codificadores de fatores de virulência (enterotoxinas (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh, sei, selj, selk, sell, selm, seln, selo, selp, seIq, ser, ses, set, selu, selv, e selx), hemolisinas (hla, hlb, hld, hlg, e hlgv), toxinas exfoliativas (eta, etb e etd), leucocidina de Panton-Valentine (pvl), toxina da síndrome do choque tóxico (tst)), genes codificadores de resistência a antibióticos (resistência a tetraciclina (tetK, tetL e tetM), eritromicina (ermA, ermB e ermC), meticilina (mecA e mecC) e tobramicina (ant(4\')-Ia)), tipagem molecular (spa, SCCmec e agr types), e fenotipagem quanto à resistência a antibióticos foram realizadas em estafilococos isolados de leite de vacas com mastite e de amostras de planta de processamento de queijo. Staphylococcus aureus foi identificado na maioria dos isolados de ambas as origens. Diversos genes de fatores de virulência foram detectados, com destaque para a distribuição de genes codificadores de enterotoxinas estafilocócicas (85,0%-85,7% dos isolados foram positivos para um ou mais genes codificadores de enterotoxinas), sendo o gene relacionado com a toxina H o mais frequente. Staphylococcus aureus meticilina resistente foram identificados em isolados de leite de vacas com mastite (4.1%) e em processamento de queijo (6.0%); o perfil genotípico e fenotípico destes isolados foram descritos. t605 foi o mais freqüente na população de S. aureus estudada. Em leite de vacas com mastite, Lactococcus foi sugerido como o agente causador de um surto de mastite numa fazenda leiteira. Usando sequenciamento de nova geração, a abundância de Lactococcus foi observada no microbioma das amostras. O isolamento e sequenciamento de DNA confirmaram a presença de Lactococcus lactis e Lactococcus garvieae. O microbioma de amostras ambientais e de leite de tanque da fazenda mostrou o gênero Lactococcus entre os mais comuns, sugerindo outras fontes deste gênero. Contemplando parâmetros da qualidade de leite, o microbioma de leite de tanque de várias fazendas leiteiras foi relacionado com contagem de células somáticas e contagem bacteriana. O core microbiome foi descrito e muitos gêneros bacterianos de importância foram identificados. Dentre as análises realizadas associando microbioma com parâmetros da qualidade de leite, foi destacada a identificação de Streptococcus em amostras classificadas com alta contagem de células somáticas e alta contagem bacteriana. Diversos táxons bacterianos com abundância relativa significativamente maior em amostras classificadas com alta e baixa contagem de células somáticas e contagem bacteriana foram mostrados. Reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real também foi realizada e associada com diversidade bacteriana, táxons bacterianos e contagem bacteriana. Estes levantamentos confirmam a necessidade de controlar e prevenir a contaminação bacteriana na indústria de lácteos, do rebanho leiteiro até os consumidores.

A cardiomiopatia hipertrófica (CMH) é uma doença geneticamente determinada, caracterizada por hipertrofia ventricular primária, com prevalência estimada de 0.2% na população geral. Qualquer portador tem 50% de chance de transmitir esta doença para seus filhos, o que torna cada vez mais relevante a importância do estudo genético dos indivíduos acometidos e de seus familiares. Já foram descritas diversas mutações genéticas causadoras de CMH, a maioria em genes que codificam proteínas do sarcômero, e algumas mutações mais raras em genes não sarcoméricos. O objetivo desse estudo é sequenciar as regiões exônicas de genes candidatos, incluindo os principais envolvidos na hipertrofia miocárdica, utilizando o sequenciamento de nova geração (Generation Sequencing); testar a aplicabilidade e viabilidade deste sistema para identificar mutações já confirmadas e propor as prováveis novas mutações causadoras de CMH. Métodos e resultados: 66 pacientes não aparentados portadores de CMH foram estudados e submetidos à coleta de sangue para obtenção do DNA para analisar as regiões exômicas de 82 genes candidatos, utilizando a plataforma MiSeq (Illumina). Identificou-se 99 mutações provavelmente patogênicas em 54 pacientes incluídos no estudo (81,8%) relacionadas ou não a CMH, e distribuídas em 42 genes diferentes. Destas mutações 27 já haviam sido publicadas, sendo que 17 delas descritas como causadoras de CMH. Em 28 pacientes (42,4%) identificou-se mutação nos três principais genes sarcoméricos relacionados à CMH (MYH7, MYBPC3, TNNT2). Encontrou-se também um grande número de variantes não sonôminas de efeito clínico incerto e algumas mutações relacionadas a outras enfermidades. Conclusão: a análise da sequencia dos exônos de genes candidatos, demonstrou ser uma técnica promissora para o diagnóstico genético de CMH de forma mais rápida e sensível. A quantidade de dados gerados é o um fator limitante até o momento, principalmente em doenças geneticamente complexas com envolvimento de diversos genes e com sistema de bioinformática limitado. / Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetically determined disease, estimated prevalence of 0.2% in the general population. Any of its carriers has 50% likelihood to pass it on to their children, and that makes the genetic study of these individuals and their relatives even more relevant. There have been several studies describing genetic mutations that cause HCM - the vast majority in genes responsible for sarcomere protein coding - and other rarer mutations in non-sarcomeric genes. The aim of this research is study exonic areas of specific genes, including the most important ones related to myocardial hypertrophy, identifying the genetic mutations that have already been documented, and possible new pathogenic mutations, using the high throughput DNA sequencing (NGS); testing the pplicability and viability to identify HCM-causing mutations. Methods and results: 66 unrelated patients with CM were studied and subject to blood sample in order to extract their genomic DNA to analyze exomic regions of 82 candidates genes, using the high throughput sequencing technology on MiSeg (Illumina) platform. In this study we identified 99 possible damaging mutations in 54 patients (81.8%) that could be related or not to HCM, and distributed in 42 different genes. 27 of this variants have already been published, and 17 of them have been described as HCM causes. 42,4% of the patients (28 individuals) have genetic mutations in the three main sarcomeric genes related to HCM (MYH7, MYBPC3, TNNT2). We also identified a large number of non-synonymous variants of uncertain clinical significance and some mutations related to other diseases. Conclusion: The exome analysis in candidates genes using NGS has demonstrated to be promising for the genetic diagnosis of HCM, in a short time with sensivity. The amount of data obtained in a short period of time is the main limiting factor, especially for genetically complex diseases that involve multiple genes.

Le syndrome de Goldenhar ou OAVS est une maladie du développement impliquant les deux premiers arcs branchiaux. Très hétérogène, elle est caractérisée par des anomalies des oreilles,des yeux et des vertèbres ainsi que par une microsomie hémifaciale. Des causes environnementales (exposition à l’Acide Rétinoïque (AR) durant la grossesse) et des causes génétiques (anomalies chromosomiques) ont été évoquées, mais aucun gène n’était directement associé à ce spectre. L’objectif de ce projet est donc d’identifier des gènes impliqués dans le spectre OAV. Des approches pangénomiques par séquençage nouvelle génération (exome,panels de gènes ciblés) ont été utilisées pour identifier des gènes candidats. L’identification de mutations dans MYT1 et l’inactivation transitoire de son l’homologue myt1a chez le poisson zèbre ont confirmé son rôle dans le développement cranio-facial et son implication dans l’OAVS. La validation fonctionnelle de ces mutations a été réalisée in vitro. Cible de la voie de l’Acide Rétinoïque (AR), MYT1 agit également comme répresseur des Récepteurs de l’AR permettant son rétrocontrôle négatif. Une approche toxicologique (traitements à l’AR de souris gestantes pendant une période clef du développement embryonnaire) a permis l’identification de protéines et de voies de signalisation dérégulées chez les embryons traités. L’étude de ces protéines modulées et notamment de celles déjà impliquées dans le développement cranio-facial tend à renforcer le lien entre AR et OAVS et offre des pistes intéressantes quant à l’identification de nouveaux gènes candidats pour ce syndrome, ces protéines pouvant être codées par des gènes potentiellement mutés chez des patients OAVS. / Goldenhar syndrome or Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Spectrum (OAVS) is a rare developmental disorder involving the first and the second pharyngeal arches. Extremely heterogeneous, it is characterized by hemifacial microsomia, asymmetric ears, ocular and vertebral abnormalities. Various etiologies have been suggested including environmental factors, especially embryonic Retinoic Acid (RA) exposure during pregnancy, and genetic causes (various chromosomal abnormalities). However, no gene had been formally implicated in this syndrome so far. The goal of this project is to identify genes involved in OAVS. Novel pangenomic approaches by Next generation Sequencing (Whole Exome Sequencing and Target genes Panel) were used to find new candidate genes. Identification of mutations in MYT1 and the transient knockdown experiments in zebrafish confirmed its implication in OAVS. Our in vitro studies provided functional characterization of these mutations and supported the link between MYT1 and RA signaling pathway. Thus, MYT1 is a target of RA but also acts as a repressor of RA Receptors and so, participates at the negative feedback. Toxicological approach was also performed by treatment of gestational mice by all-trans RA during a critical window of embryonic development. It led to a deregulation of proteins and to a modulation of cellular pathways in treated embryos. Studying the proteins whose expression is altered following the treatment, especially the proteins already involved in craniofacial development, could led to the identification of new candidate genes for OAVS and thus, may allow to better decipher the pathogenic mechanisms.

Technology scaling beyond Moore’s law demands cutting-edge solutions of the gate length scaling in sub-10 nm regime for low power high speed operations. Recently SOI technology has received considerable attention, however manufacturable solutions in sub-10 nm technologies are not yet known for future nanoelectronics. Therefore, to continue scalinginsub-10 nm region, new one(1D) and two dimensional(2D) “nano-materials” and engineering are expected to keep its pace. However, significant challenges must be overcome for nano-material properties in carrier transport to be useful in future silicon nanotechnology. Thus, it is very important to understand and modulate their electronic band structure and transport properties for low power nanoelectronics applications. This thesis tries to provide solutions for some problems in this area. In recent times, one dimensional Silicon nanowire has emerged as a building block for the next generation nano-electronic devices as it can accommodate multiple gate transistor architecture with excellent electrostatic integrity. However as the experimental study of various energy band parameters at the nanoscale regime is extremely challenging, usually one relies on the atomic level simulations, the results of which are at par with the experimental observations. Two such parameters are the band gap and effective mass, which are of pioneer importance for the understanding of the current transport mechanism. Although there exists a large number of empirical relations of the band gap in relaxed Silicon nanowire, however there is a growing demand for the development of a physics based analytical model to standardize different energy band parameters which particularly demands its application in TCAD software for predicting different electrical characteristics of novel devices and its strained counterpart to increase the device characteristics significantly without changing the device architecture. In the first part of this work reports the analytical modeling of energy band gap and electron transport effective mass of relaxed and strained Silicon nanowires in various crystallographic directions for future nanoelectronics. The technology scaling of gate length in beyond Moore’s law devices also demands the SOI body thickness, TSi0 which is essentially very challenging task in nano-device engineering. To overcome this circumstance, two dimensional crystals in atomically thin layered materials have found great attention for future nanolectronics device applications. Graphene, one layer of Graphite, is such 2D materials which have found potentiality in high speed nanoelectronics applications due to its several unique electronic properties. However, the zero band gap in pure Graphene makes it limited in switching device or transistor applications. Thus, opening and tailoring a band gap has become a highly pursued topic in recent graphene research. The second part of this work reports atomistic simulation based real and complex band structure properties Graphene-Boron nitride heterobilayer and Boron Nitride embedded Graphene nanoribbons which can improve the grapheme and its nanoribbon band structure properties without changing their originality. This part also reports the direct band-to-band tunneling phenomena through the complex band structures and their applications in tunnel field effect transistors(TFETs) which has emerged as a strong candidate for next generation low-stand by power(LSTP) applications due to its sub-60mV/dec Sub threshold slope(SS). As the direct band-to-band tunneling(BTBT) is improbable in Silicon(either its bulk or nanowire form), it is difficult to achieve superior TFET characteristics(i.e., very low SS and high ON cur-rent) from the Silicon TFETs. Whereas, it is explored that much high ON current and very low subthreshold slope in hybrid Graphene based TFET characteristics open a new prospect in future TFETs. The investigations on ultrathin body materials also call for a need to explore new 2D materials with finite band gap and their various nanostructures for future nanoelectronic applications in order to replace conventional Silicon. In the third part of this report, we have investigated the electronic and dielectric properties of semiconducting layered Transition metal dichalcogenide materials (MX2)(M=Mo, W;X =S, Se, Te) which has recently emerged as a promising alternative to Si as channel materials for CMOS devices. Five layered MX2 materials(exceptWTe2)in their 2D sheet and 1D nanoribbon forms are considered to study the real and imaginary band structure of thoseMX2 materials by atomistic simulations. Studying the complex dispersion properties, it is shown that all the five MX2 support direct BTBT in their monolayer sheet forms and offer an average ON current and subthresholdslopeof150 A/mand4 mV/dec, respectively. However, onlytheMoTe2 support direct BTBT in its nanoribbon form, whereas the direct BTBT possibility in MoS2 and MoSe2 depends on the number of layers or applied uniaxial strain. WX2 nanoribbons are shown to be non-suitable for efficient TFET operation. Reasonably high tunneling current in these MX2 shows that these can take advantage over conventional Silicon in future tunnel field effect transistor applications.