Project properties
Title Experimental Evolution of a Sex Chromosome
Group Genetics, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-36
Supervisor(s) Ben Auxier,Duur Aanen, Fons Debets
Examiner(s) Duur Aanen
Contact info ben.auxier@wur.nl
Begin date 2020/01/01
End date 2021/12/31
Description Theory predicts that sex chromosomes begin with non-recombining blocks that accumulate sex-specific antagonistic alleles. In nature, fungi do not exist as males and female, but instead as hemaphrodites. To test the evolution of a sex chromosome, this project makes use of a non-recombining chromosome in the species Neurospora tetrasperma. By experimentally evolving a strain in the male role against a non-evolving strain in the female role, we aim to test to what extent a "male" fungus will evolve under extreme circumstances.
This project will make use of a currently running experimental evolution experiment, and test when and how this evolved "male" function is advantageous. Using a combination of fitness and growth measurements, combined with sequencing of the male lines, we aim to understand the rules of sex chromosome evolution.
Used skills General Microbiological Culture, Bioinformatics, Microscopy
Requirements GEN-30306