Project properties
Title Whole genome sequencing and analysis of mutation accumulation lines of A. nidulans.
Group Genetics, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-36
Supervisor(s) Ben Auxier, Fons Debets
Examiner(s) Ben Auxier, Fons Debets
Contact info Ben.Auxier@wur.nl or Fons.Debets@wur.nl
Begin date 2023/09/04
End date
Description The haploid filamentous ascomycete fungus A. nidulans produces both asexual (mitotic) and sexual (meiotic) spores. These spores are expected to be essentially genetically identical, because during selfing of a haploid meiosis does not create recombinants. Bruggeman et al. 2003 performed a large-scale mutation accumulation experiment to test for differences between sexually and asexually produced spores. Forty replicate ‘asexual’ lines and 40 ‘sexual’ lines were subcultured for 40 generations using respectively a random single asexual spore or sexual spore. It was found that the sexual lines after 40 generations had significantly higher fitness than the asexual lines indicating that sex slows down the accumulation of deleterious mutations.
Whole-genome sequencing of all 80 lines and their ancestor will be performed to measure the mutation rate and type in the sexual and the asexual lines. Additional fitness assays can be set up to further characterise selected lines with presumed deleterious mutations.
Used skills
Whole Genome Sequencing, Bioinformatic analysis, General microbial techniques; Understanding of concepts of evolution and genetics
Requirements