Monitoring Dinoflagellate sexual reproduction
Project Description
The dinoflagellates not only have genome sizes up to 80-100 times that of human beings (up to 250 vs 3 pg of haploid genome size), they are also devoid of detectable-nucleosomes and their chromosomes are apparently quasi-condensed throughout the cell cycle. Sexual reproduction is not only important for the differentiation of life-cycle stages, recombination and meiosis are also essential for genetic analysis. For many dinoflagellates, there is no sure way to monitor the progress of sexual reproduction. .
Dinoflagellates are amazing group of organisms for many other reasons: Dinoflagellates are also the primary producer of the coral reef community (as symbiotic zooxanthallae) and major causative agents of red tides and many natural products (e.g. Omega-3, Dinoflagellates are also the sister group to many major human parasites, including Plasmodium ( malaria) and Toxoplasma.(Toxoplasmosis).
http://wordsinmocean.com/2013/01/08/5-reasons-why-dinoflagellates-are-friggin-awesome/
https://www.dsm.com/markets/foodandbeverages/en_US/products/nutritional-lipids/life-dha.html
Dinoflagellates are amazing group of organisms for many other reasons: Dinoflagellates are also the primary producer of the coral reef community (as symbiotic zooxanthallae) and major causative agents of red tides and many natural products (e.g. Omega-3, Dinoflagellates are also the sister group to many major human parasites, including Plasmodium ( malaria) and Toxoplasma.(Toxoplasmosis).
http://wordsinmocean.com/2013/01/08/5-reasons-why-dinoflagellates-are-friggin-awesome/
https://www.dsm.com/markets/foodandbeverages/en_US/products/nutritional-lipids/life-dha.html
Supervisor
WONG Joseph Tin Yum
Quota
1
Course type
UROP1000
UROP1100
UROP2100
UROP3100
UROP4100
Applicant's Roles
The student will carry out protocols to induce sexual reproduction of dinoflagellates and to monitor the progress with flow cytometry and molecular techniques.
Applicant's Learning Objectives
The project will involve protocols in the induction of sexual reproduction and cell fusion. Depending on the progress of the student, the project can also involve the monitoring of the resulting lineages. The project will involve the culture of dinoflagellates, the use of flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy; as well as the use of molecular techniques to monitor sexual reproduction.
Complexity of the project
Moderate