Evolution following whole genome duplication - a comparative investigation of plant and animal genomes

Closing date:  Monday, 16^th December at 12 noon

Background: Whole genome duplication (WGD), also known as polyploidy, is an extreme mutation that can be inherited by future generations with major evolutionary impacts. WGD events have been proposed in many different eukaryote lineages, including at important timepoints of plant and animal evolution (e.g. the ancestors to all seed plants and vertebrates). Duplicated genomes always return to a more stable state during evolution in a process called ‘rediploidisation’. During rediploidisation, duplicated genes created by WGD are often lost, but some evolve new functions, contributing to changes in phenotypes and species diversity. While the importance of WGD in evolution is accepted, much remains to be learnt about rediploidisation, including the genetic processes involved, its drivers and outcomes for evolutionary diversification. To date, there has been a strong division seperating researchers working on WGDs in either plants or animals, leading to different concepts and scientific interpretations. This project seeks to improve our understanding of evolution after WGD by investigating both plant and animal systems; integrating and standardising concepts, methods, and interpretations from both fields.

Broader framing: This PhD contributes to a 4-year BBSRC consortium project (starting in 2025) with an ambitious mission to understand the evolutionary importance of WGD events and rediploidisation processes across the eukaryotic tree. This BBSRC project, led by Edinburgh, partners with leading UK research organisations, including the Universities of Bath, Bristol, and Oxford, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, as well as international collaborators. It is anticipated that the PhD student will fully integrate into this exciting new project, with broad opportunities to collaborate with researchers across the consortium and to participate in leading international conferences. Training will be provided in advanced genomics, phylogenetics and bioinformatics methodologies.

Candidates: We seek an accomplished student with proven interests in genetics or evolutionary biology and existing bioinformatics experience.

References

Redmond AK, Casey D, Gundappa MK, Macqueen DJ, McLysaght A. Independent rediploidization masks shared whole genome duplication in the sturgeon-paddlefish ancestor. Nat Commun. 2023 May 19;14(1):2879. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38714-z. PMID: 37208359; PMCID: PMC10199039.

Robertson FM, Gundappa MK, Grammes F, Hvidsten TR, Redmond AK, Lien S, Martin SAM, Holland PWH, Sandve SR, Macqueen DJ. Lineage-specific rediploidization is a mechanism to explain time-lags between genome duplication and evolutionary diversification. Genome Biol. 2017 Jun 14;18(1):111. doi: 10.1186/s13059-017-1241-z. PMID: 28615063; PMCID: PMC5470254.

Applications

A statement of interest and full CV with names and addresses (including email addresses) of two academic referees, should be emailed to  RDSVS.Studentship.Applications@ed.ac.uk.

When applying for the studentship please state clearly the project title and the supervisor in your covering letter.

Closing date for applications: Monday 16^th December 2024 at 12 noon.

Funding Notes: A generous research & travel budget, tuition fees and a stipend at UKRI minimum level (with an enhancement of £4000 per annum) for 4 years, are all included in this studentship. Studentship to start on 1^st April 2025.