Genetics and Genomics PhD/MRes

The School of Life Sciences has many research groups doing pioneering work in genetics, ranging across a broad diversity of relevant topics.

Research within the school on ecological and evolutionary aspects of genetics includes:

• research on population genetics and genome evolution
• understanding the genetic basis of left-right body asymmetry
• analysis of diversity and endosymbiont infection in spiders
• genetics of colour polymorphism in ladybirds
• phylogenetic analysis of adaptive radiations in snails
• genetic analysis of diversity and adaptation in domesticated cattle and chickens
• phylogenetic approaches to understand the origin of eukaryotes
• computational molecular evolution and horizontal gene transfer
• comparative genomics of whales
• genomic analysis of diversity and adaptation in domesticated livestock including cattle and chickens

Population genetics studies the genetic variation that exists in wild populations, and the forces, such as selection, mutation and genetic drift, that shape this variation. Particular interests in the School involve:

• the molecular genetic variation of humans and their viruses
• variation in wild populations of molluscs, foraminiferans and Drosophila. 
• studies on molecular evolution and phylogenetics using computer analysis of DNA and protein sequences
• the genetic changes that are associated with speciation
• evolution of transposable elements
• the population genetics of genome structure 

Some of the research in medical genetics in the school includes:

• analysis of genetic factors in congenital heart disease
• genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease
• genomic basis of centromere function
• genetic and epigenetic factors relevant to learning and cognition
• analysis of human copy number variation and its relevance to disease states 
• development of therapies for the triplet repeat disorder myotonic dystrophy

Research interests within the school include:

• The evolutionary and behavioural ecology of insects and mammals and other species

• Evolution and importance of sex in fungi

• The interface between evolution and development

• Evolution of colour polymorphism and left right asymmetry in snails

• Evolutionary genetics of spider silk

• Evolution of ladybird colour polymorphism genes

• Evolutionary genetics of stickleback-parasite interactions

• Evolution of sex in wild populations of fungi

With whole genome sequences being available for numerous organisms across all kingdoms of life, numerous questions concerning genome evolution to gene function, phylogenetic relationships to genetic and metabolic networks, genotype to phenotype of complex traits, can be addressed through comparative genomics. 

The School of Life Sciences is at the forefront of this research and you will be working alongside your supervisors to answer the questions surrounding genomics.

Researchers within the School of Life Sciences use bioinformatic analysis of related genomes to lead them to testable hypotheses. You will be helping these experts in their work an helping develop this rapidly growing scientific area. Research available covers all of these areas and will use our expertise and resources on genome sequences to yeasts and fungi.

Some of the research areas we are interested in are:

• the evolutionary relationships in the molluscs (in particular, the land snails) and the link between molluscan phylogenies and biogeography
• the molecular taxonomy of spiders and the link between rates of molecular and morphological diversification
• studies on the evolution of spider silk gene families and the relationship between silk diversification and speciation
• studies on the phylogeny of the foraminifera and the distribution of different genetic types across the oceans

Within the human molecular genetics area, there is an emphasis on the role of repetitive DNA sequences in health and disease, and in chromosome stability. Some of our research areas include: 

• studies to understand the molecular basis of myotonic dystrophy, the identification of genes involved in human developmental heart disorders
• cardiac stem cells
• the role of apoptosis in brain tumour development and therapy
• artificial chromosomes and chromosome segregation
• human genetic diversity
• copy number analysis
• molecular genetics of muscle disease
• mouse models of muscle disorders
• molecular genetic approaches to anthropology and human population genetics 

Molecular genetics is the study of genes at the molecular level. It focuses on the processes that underlie the expression of the genetic information from the DNA into the functional proteins that execute the genetic programme.

Within the School of Life Sciences, research in molecular genetics is concentrated in the human genetics, fungal biology, and developmental genetics and gene control groups. In the human genetics group, research in this area includes:

• studies of the molecular basis of myotonic dystrophy and the identification of genes involved in cardiac development
• the molecular genetics of muscle disease
• mouse models of muscle disorders and molecular genetic approaches to anthropology and human population genetics 

In the fungal biology group, there are studies on:

• The molecular events that determine stress responses during polarised growth
• Protein folding and secretion in yeasts and filamentous fungi
• The molecular and cellular effects of stress on yeast cells
• The genetic mechanisms that control sex in fungi.

The developmental genetics and gene control group focuses on the mechanisms of eukaryotic gene expression and the genetics of vertebrate embryonic development. Developmental studies are focused largely upon the mechanisms that control stem cell fate. Projects on the control of gene expression address the machinery used by cells to achieve appropriate levels of functional transcripts. These studies include control of transcription and the mechanisms of RNA maturation.