About the Project
Inheritance can occur via non-genetic, yet heritable, mechanisms. The resulting trans-generational effects can influence how selection acts and traits evolve. The idea is that any trauma like environmental stress or age can be somehow inherited, and then influence the phenotype in offspring and future generations. However, we do not know the fitness consequences linked to trans-generational mechanisms. This student project will investigate the trans-generational effects of aging, using telomere biology. Telomeres are biomarkers that predict reduced longevity with age. These non-coding DNA repeats protect the chromosome ends and shorten over time. Studies consistently link changes in telomeres (telomere length and/or dynamics) with age and predicted longevity. There is evidence for both heritable and non-genetic influences on telomere length, but most studies point to trans-generational effects – specifically, maternal and paternal effects – explaining some variation in telomere dynamics. Therefore, this project will examine trans-generational effects, and inheritance, in telomeres in a wild bird population. The student will use a longitudinal molecular database of telomere measurements from a wild house sparrow population and support those with focused breeding experiments in the lab. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the constraints imposed by aging and trauma will significantly further the field, help explain trauma resilience, life-history diversity, the evolution of longevity and may guide the way towards a healthy, long life.
This project requires a strong analytical interest in using large dataset for statistical analysis. Also, this project involves field work on Lundy island with wild birds, so a willingness to spend time on a remote location working with wild birds is needed. The student would be based in Imperials beautiful Silwood Park Campus 25 miles West of Central London, situated in about 100ha natural parkland, with a buzzing population of 120+ graduate students and 30 world-renown researchers, with excellent opportunities for collaboration with colleagues in Clinical Science at Imperial, and at the University of Sheffield.
To apply, please send your CV & cover letter to [Email Address Removed].
Funding Notes
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/grantham/education/science-and-solutions-for-a-changing-planet-dtp/
Applicants should be aware that as these studentships are funded through NERC (Natural Environment Research Council), to be eligible for a full award they must have either:
British Citizenship or;
Settled status in the UK, meaning they have no restrictions on how long they can stay,
Been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the studentship - (For non-EU citizens, this must NOT have been in full-time education.)This means they must have been normally residing in the UK (apart from temporary or occasional absences). This does not apply to UK nationals.
Continue with Facebook
