Dr S Arif, Dr M D Santos-Nunes
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Department of Biological and Medical Sciences
This is a competitive 3 year Full Time PhD project
Value p.a.: Bursary of approximately £14500 for Academic Year 2018/19 & fees
Project description:
Gene duplication is a major evolutionary mechanism leading to novel gene function and phenotypic diversity. However, very little is known about the period shortly after the duplication event. Molecular evolution studies suggest that gene dosage is an important contributory factor in determining whether new duplicates become fixed or not. However, in metazoans this evidence is largely based on statistical inference based on extant population data.
In this project, we aim to test the effect of gene dosage on the fate of new gene duplicates in an experimental framework using Drosophila melanogaster.
The research project student will generate tandem gene duplications, deletions and non-functional mutants using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and other transgenic tools to target both genes likely to result in genes with dosage-sensitive functions as well as genes that are expected to display less sensitivity to dosage. The effect of the newly generated transgenic alleles will be measured by conducting fitness assays and functional genomics to quantify transcription (qPCR, RNAseq) and enhancer interactions (4C-seq).
Key words: gene duplication, gene dosage, gene regulation, CRISPR/Cas9, 4C-seq
Funding Notes
Start date: September 2018
Applicants should have first class or upper second class (minimum 2.1) honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or an acceptable equivalent qualification.
EU Applicants-English language:
A valid IELTS Academic test certificate minimum score level 6 in each of the four areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking with overall minimum score 7.0 issued since 12th January 2016 by an approved test centre.
To apply, please click 'Apply' button, which would download the application form. Please complete the form and email it to [Email Address Removed].
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