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博士|【博士奖学金】最新PhD招生和奖学金信息（107）( 二 )


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Durham University | the UK
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Friday, January 10, 2020
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博士|【博士奖学金】最新PhD招生和奖学金信息（107）
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We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join this exciting project on the genomics of mutualism dependence using ant/plant symbioses as model systems. The scope of the project can be modified in function of the students interests and skills. Students with or eager to acquire bioinformatics skills are especially encouraged to apply.
Background: Mutualisms –cooperation between species– are ubiquitous and linked to major transitions in the history of life, such as the evolution of eukaryotes or the conquest of the land by plants. They have allowed the diversification of new lineages, permitted species to access otherwise inaccessible resources and radically modified Earth’s geochemical cycles. Yet, understanding the origins and evolutionary trajectories of mutualistic dependences remains a major challenge. How symbiotic mutualisms impact genomes is poorly known besides microbial endosymbioses. This project proposes to test how mutualistic dependence influences the evolution interaction-related genes in the largest ant/plant symbiotic system. The symbiotic system involves epiphytic plants offering lodging and sometimes food to ants in return for extra nutrients and sometimes defense against herbivores. This system, the Hydnophytinae clade in the coffee plant family (Rubiaceae) is uniquely replicated: specialization and loss of the mutualism occurred recurrently over the group’s evolutionary history. Does obligate dependence promote faster rates of molecular evolution following a Red Queen Hypothesis dynamics? Or alternatively, do they rather show evolutionary stasis as predicted if there is no conflict with the partner? Does the complete loss of mutualistic dependence lead to the degradation of symbiotic genes? Using a uniquely replicated system, with a large number of mutualism breakdowns (scaled to size), the student will test these alternative hypotheses.
Aims: The student will conduct comparative genomic analyses and phylogenomic analyses across the whole Hydnophytinae clade (~105 species) and appropriate outgroups. A symbiotic toolkit of genes of interest will be identified using tranomics and whole genome sequences at hand. The student will generate a solid phylogenomic dataset based on 100s genes (plastome plus hundreds of nuclear genes) using targeted hybrid capture. The student will then reconstruct the evolution of major gene families linked to the mutualism such as nitrogen and phosphorus transporters, and reconstruct their phylogenetic history, unveiling loss and expansions of gene families together with recurrent loss or specialization of the symbiotic mutualism. Using this dataset, the student will perform selection tests across the clade, focusing both on (i) targeted gene families and (ii) genome-wide analyses using complementary approaches, to test the competing hypotheses.
Methodology: This project will use (i) targeted-sequencing-based phylogenomics, (ii) comparative genomics using (1) targeted sequencing of a ‘symbiotic toolkit’ across 120 species, (2) whole genome sequencing for 20 species and (iii) selection tests using complementary methods. Comparative ant genomics and tranomics can also be part of this project, depending on the student interest.
Funding Notes
This project is in competition with others for funding. Success will depend on the quality of applications received, relative to those for competing projects. Potential applicants should contact the supervisor
(guillaume.chomicki@durham.ac.uk), with a CV and covering letter, detailing your reasons for applying for the project. Note that abundant research expense funding is available for this project.
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