Mutations, and their effects on organismal fitness, lie at the heart of understanding and predicting evolution. Because of its central role in determining evolutionary outcomes, much experimental and theoretical effort has been put into describing the fitness effects of mutations. And yet, in spite of extensive descriptions of their effects, we entirely lack the ability to predict what mutations do. This, in turn, limits our ability to predict evolution – a task that is becoming increasingly important in the face of the impending antimicrobial resistance crisis and for establishing the engineering ground rules to best utilize synthetic biology for the benefit of mankind.
The goal of this project is to dramatically extend our ability to predict evolutionary outcomes, by developing the ability to, for the first time, predict the effects of single point mutations on fitness of E.coli. The project will focus on mutations in gene regulatory elements (promoters), first determining how they map onto phenotype (gene expression levels), and subsequently onto organismal fitness.
The project will involve a combination of experimental and theoretical work. The core of the project will focus on developing a model that combines two existing frameworks: thermodynamic modelling of gene regulatory networks with flux-balance analysis of metabolic networks. Experimentally, the student will develop synthetic gene regulatory networks (using well-understood regulators LacI, TetR, and Lambda cI) in order to understand the fundamental structural and architectural features of promoters, which will form the foundation of the thermodynamic model. Secondly, the student will also introduce mutations into the existing promoters of metabolic genes, quantitatively measuring the effects of those mutations on fitness and using that data to develop an accurate flux-balance analysis of the network.
On a fundamental level, this project will demonstrate how interdisciplinary approaches can help overcome long-standing, fundamental questions in biology. From an applied perspective, the last stage of the project will evaluate how such a map can be applied to improve synthetic biology and its applications. The ability to predict optimal metabolic network design on a single nucleotide level would help overcome the need for extensive experimental ‘tweaking’ of networks – a costly and laborious obstacle for synthetic biology.
Training/techniques to be provided:
Systems biology, bioinformatics and biophysics: analysis of large-scale datasets; biophysical modelling of gene regulatory networks; flux-balance analysis; gene regulatory network modelling; metabolic network modelling. Molecular and synthetic biology: cloning; recombineering; construction of synthetic gene regulatory networks. Microbiology: bacterial culture growth; competition and fitness assays; flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting; single cell analyses (optional) Evolution: genotype-phenotype-fitness mapping; experimental evolution in microbes
Entry Requirements
Candidates are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a related area/subject. Candidates with previous laboratory experience, particularly in cell culture and molecular biology, are particularly encouraged to apply.
How To Apply
For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/). Informal enquiries may be made directly to the primary supervisor. On the online application form select PhD Genetics
For international students, we also offer a unique 4 year PhD programme that gives you the opportunity to undertake an accredited Teaching Certificate whilst carrying out an independent research project across a range of biological, medical and health sciences.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. The full Equality, diversity and inclusion statement can be found on the website https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/equality-diversity-inclusion/”
For international students we also offer a unique 4 year PhD programme that gives you the opportunity to undertake an accredited Teaching Certificate whilst carrying out an independent research project across a range of biological, medical and health sciences. For more information please visit http://www.internationalphd.manchester.ac.uk
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