Graduate position: Molecular and evolutionary genetics of cell/organ size relationships
A PhD fellowship jointly supervised by Christian Braendle & Pierre Léopold is available at the Institute of Biology Valrose in Nice (starting data 01/10/2016).
Project summary:
Molecular mechanisms that coordinate size relationships among different cell types and organs are fundamental for organismal growth and fitness, yet still poorly understood. Moreover, it remains unclear how mechanisms governing such allometry evolve within and between species. This project addresses these questions using an integrative – molecular and quantitative genetic – approach and taking take advantage of two genetic model organisms, the nematode (C. elegans) and the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster).
The principal objectives of the project are:
-
Mapping of natural genetic variation in cell/organ size relationships and their plasticity in C. elegans using Genome-Wide Association Study, QTL mapping using F2 RILs and/or experimental evolution/selection lines.
-
Molecular characterization of uncovered candidate gene variants affecting cell/organ size relationships using complementation analysis, RNAi, transgenesis and targeted genome editing.
-
Molecular-developmental analysis of select candidate genes in Drosophila growth and organ size regulation.
This PhD fellowship is available in the context of the Signalife PhD program of the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. This 3-4 year position is open to all nationalities and interested candidates should apply directly through the Signalife website: http://signalife.unice.fr
For more information, please visit:
http://ibv.unice.fr/
http://www.braendlelab.net
http://ibv.unice.fr/EN/equipe/leopold.php
or contact:
braendle@unice.fr or leopold@unice.fr
Relevant publications
Colombani, J., Andersen, D.S., Boulan, L., Boone, E., Romero, N., Virolle, V., Texada, M., and Leopold, P. (2015). Drosophila Lgr3 Couples Organ Growth with Maturation and Ensures Developmental Stability. Curr.Biol. 25, 2723-2729.
Poullet N, Vielle A, Gimond C, Ferrari C & Braendle C 2015 Evolutionarily divergent thermal sensitivity of germline development and fertility in hermaphroditic Caenorhabditis nematodes. Evolution & Development 17: 380-397.
Colombani, J., D. S. Andersen, and P. Leopold. 2012. Secreted peptide Dilp8 coordinates Drosophila tissue growth with developmental timing. Science 336:582-585.