Horizontal transfer of toxin-encoding genes in drosophilid flies
Noah Whiteman, Professor
Integrative Biology
Applications for Spring 2025 are closed for this project.
[NOTE TO APPLICANTS: This project is only open to onboard a previous Whiteman Lab undergraduate researcher who had not been enrolled through URAP. We will not be evaluating new applications for this project at this time.]
While much of genetic inheritance occurs via vertical transmission (i.e., from parents to offspring), the exchange of genes between species, or horizontal transmission, plays an important role in evolution. This process, called horizontal gene transfer (or HGT), is poorly understood in animals.
This project focuses on HGT of a toxin called cytolethal distending toxin B (cdtB) from microbial species to drosophilid fruit flies that occurred several million years ago. The persistence of cdtB in the drosophilid genome implies there is a functional, potentially adaptive role for this gene. Interestingly, bacterial copies of CdtB normally induce cell cycle arrest and cell death in animals. How Drosophila use CdtB, and how they do not harm themselves in the process, is unclear. We hypothesize Drosophila cdtB plays a protective role against parasitoid wasps and other predators. This project aims to explore how Drosophila use this gene as a defense mechanism without harming themselves.
Role: This project will include:
1) Techniques in molecular genetics (i.e. DNA extraction, PCR, electrophoresis, sequencing)
2) Drosophila genetics and husbandry
3) Training in scientific methodologies, such as reading primary scientific literature and experimental design
Qualifications: This position is only open for previous Whiteman Lab undergraduate researchers.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Rebecca Tarnopol, Ph.D. candidate
Hours: 6-8 hrs
Related website: http://www.noahwhiteman.org
Biological & Health Sciences