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CRISPR/Cas9-mediated SNP changes to elucidate cause of size variations
How genetic variation (e.g. SNP) leads to different traits/phenotypes in natural populations is a fundamental and challenging problem in both the life and medical sciences. This project will involve several objectives to tackle this problem.
Genetic variation – genetic differences within and between populations of the same species (e.g. SNP) – is relevant to the outcome of various traits/phenotypes such as shape, behavior, and fitness. How genetic variation could produce phenotypes is a fundamental and challenging problem in both the life and medical sciences. Our group has worked on this problem using a naturally derived population of inbred lines of the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). Our recent genome- and proteome-wide association studies for wing size have led to the identification of many SNPs [1] and proteins [2], respectively, of which occurrence/abundance statistically correlate with the variations in size. These raise the question if these SNPs and specific abundance of the proteins are the cause of the variations in size.
[1] Vonesch SC, Lamparter D, Mackay TF, Bergmann S, Hafen E. Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Novel Regulators of Growth in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS Genet. 2016, 12(1):e1005616. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005616.
[2] Okada H, Ebhardt HA, Vonesch SC, Aebersold R, Hafen E. Proteome-wide association studies identify biochemical modules associated with a wing-size phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster. Nat Commun. 2016, 7:12649. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12649.
Genetic variation – genetic differences within and between populations of the same species (e.g. SNP) – is relevant to the outcome of various traits/phenotypes such as shape, behavior, and fitness. How genetic variation could produce phenotypes is a fundamental and challenging problem in both the life and medical sciences. Our group has worked on this problem using a naturally derived population of inbred lines of the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). Our recent genome- and proteome-wide association studies for wing size have led to the identification of many SNPs [1] and proteins [2], respectively, of which occurrence/abundance statistically correlate with the variations in size. These raise the question if these SNPs and specific abundance of the proteins are the cause of the variations in size.
[1] Vonesch SC, Lamparter D, Mackay TF, Bergmann S, Hafen E. Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Novel Regulators of Growth in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS Genet. 2016, 12(1):e1005616. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005616.
[2] Okada H, Ebhardt HA, Vonesch SC, Aebersold R, Hafen E. Proteome-wide association studies identify biochemical modules associated with a wing-size phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster. Nat Commun. 2016, 7:12649. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12649.
The project consists of three objectives:
1. evaluation of the functionality of the proteins controlling wing size using transgenic RNAi,
1. establishment of an efficient fly CRISPR/Cas9 method for SNP changes, and
1. validation of the SNPs by SNP changes in naturally derived inbred line(s) using the CRISPR/Cas9 method. Through this project, we will obtain insights into how genetic variation produces the variation in size through affecting abundance of proteins.
Methods: CRISPR/Cas9, microinjection, microscopy, fly genetics, and image/data analysis.
The project consists of three objectives:
1. evaluation of the functionality of the proteins controlling wing size using transgenic RNAi, 1. establishment of an efficient fly CRISPR/Cas9 method for SNP changes, and 1. validation of the SNPs by SNP changes in naturally derived inbred line(s) using the CRISPR/Cas9 method. Through this project, we will obtain insights into how genetic variation produces the variation in size through affecting abundance of proteins.
Methods: CRISPR/Cas9, microinjection, microscopy, fly genetics, and image/data analysis.