Whole genome sequencing from mosquito blood meals (BERGSTROM_U27DTP)
Mosquitos can be seen as tiny, autonomous samplers of blood from wild animals. It is well-established that mosquito blood meals contain animal DNA, as well as DNA from animal pathogens. Current environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques are routinely applied to blood meals to survey species presence and absence, but these techniques only make use of a tiny fraction of an organism’s genome. This project will go far beyond species detection, and pioneer the sequencing of whole animal genomes from blood meals.
The project will make use of hundreds of collected blood meals with species presences already determined, to address fundamental biological questions about blood meal DNA, and push forward technologies for recovering genomic information from these samples:
– Objective 1. Improve methods to efficiently sequence genomes from blood meals: evaluating and developing protocols for efficient extraction and Illumina sequencing of blood meal DNA, including protocols from the field of ancient DNA.
– Objective 2. Uncover the molecular properties of blood meal DNA: characterising the degradation, damage patterns, and epigenetic information in blood meal DNA, including the use of Nanopore sequencing
– Objective 3. Use blood meal genomes to survey genetic diversity of animals and pathogens: recovering whole genomes from animals to learn about population structure, genetic relatedness, pathogen transmission dynamics, and more.
The student will receive broad training in molecular biology experiments, genomics technologies, bioinformatics, metagenomics, and population genetics. They will develop both wet-lab and computational genomics skills with wide applicability across the life sciences. The student will take part in journal clubs and departmental seminars, present their work at conferences, and strengthen their abilities in critical thinking and science communication.
The ideal candidate will have a background in biology (e.g. genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, evolutionary biology, biotechnology) and have strong interests in molecular biology lab work, genomics, evolution and data analysis.