Uncovering the molecular basis of cellular memory in plants

This project is available through the MIBTP programme on a competition basis. The successful applicant will join the MIBTP cohort and will take part in all of the training offered by the programme. For further details please visit the MIBTP website - https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/

Compared to animals, somatic cells of plants can be much more easily reprogrammed to regenerate whole new organs and, sometimes, entire individuals. This unique biological property has enabled plants to reproduce either sexually or asexually according to their habitat. The ability of plant cells to readily acquire a totipotent state has been attributed to their flexible epigenetic states. As a result, plant totipotency has been traditionally exploited by humans for the clonal propagation and genetic manipulation of economically important species. However, regenerated plants are not always phenotypically identical to their parents, a phenomenon known as somaclonal variation. This form of phenotypic variation has been linked to the accumulation of random genetic mutations and stochastic epigenetic modifications after regeneration; though the precise mechanisms are not well understood. The aim of this project is to (i) uncover the molecular basis of cellular memory in clonal plants and (ii) employ targeted genetic manipulation tools to manipulate totipotency plants.

Key experimental skills involved:

The student will investigate the molecular changes taking place during cellular de/re-differentiation in plants using a multidisciplinary approach (microscopy, next-generation-sequencing, computational data analysis and genome editing). The groups of JGM and LF have developed all the material and methodology required for his analysis. The student will also use customized computational models (machine learning) to enable the high-throughput analysis of cellular de/re-differentiation.

BBSRC Strategic Research Priority: Sustainable Agriculture and Food: Plant and Crop Science

Techniques that will be undertaken during the project:

The student will use a wide range of molecular, histological and computational techniques including: Genomic and Epigenomic analysis using Next Generation Sequencing data and customised computational analysis. Genetic analysis using classic and newly engineered mutants. Confocal microscopy analysis and cellular modelling.