Project Reference: TRG27-ZOO-SM1

Project title: Gene regulatory evolution and the origin of an expanded cell population

Project outline

Comparisons among species with divergent neural traits can provide a window into the cell developmental pathways and patterns of genetic regulation that determines how neural systems are constructed. We recently identified rapid evolutionary expansion in the mushroom bodies (MBs) – insect learning and memory centres - in Heliconius butterflies. Heliconius MBs house 8-times more Kenyon cells (KCs), intrinsic MB neurons, than their close relatives. This high variation in KC number implies that the normally strict stereotypy of neurodevelopment is amenable to substantial modification. Our unpublished data suggest that the expanded KC populations are derived from a pool of novel intermediate progenitor cells which have an embryonic origin and are absent in outgroup genera. We now seek to understand the cis-regulatory control of cell fate switches that result in these expanded cell populations. Critically, we have developed foundational tools and resources to explore this question, including large interspecific genomic datasets, and bulk and single cell transcriptomic datasets.  This project will use these, and newly collected data, to first characterise regulatory elements across the genome, then identify cell type specific gene regulatory architectures, to study the evolution of gene regulatory dynamics. This will involve characterisation of cell-specific enhancer and promoter regions in developing brains, exploring ontogenetic changes in their accessibility and phylogenetic patterns of divergence and conservation. The student will join a welcoming and supportive lab, with broad research interests and approaches. They will gain experience with a wide range of sequencing data and bioinformatic techniques, including Machine Learning approaches to characterising regulatory elements. In addition to bioinformatics training, we place high value in supporting students in gaining confidence in independent work, open data and project management, and career planning.

Principal Supervisor

Professor Stephen Montgomery

Email address: shm37@cam.ac.uk

Department / Partner Institute: Zoology

Website: https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/people/stephen-montgomery

BBSRC strategic theme

Understanding the rules of life