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

University of Edinburgh

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 separating
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.

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.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dan Macqueen by email
(daniel.macqueen@roslin.ed.ac.uk).

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

Full project advert here:
Evolution following whole genome duplication - a comparative investigation
of plant and animal genomes at University of Edinburgh on FindAPhD.com.

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland,
with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th' ann
an Oilthigh Dh?n ?ideann, cl?raichte an Alba, ?ireamh cl?raidh SC005336.

Alex Twyford <Alex.Twyford@ed.ac.uk>

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