PhD Position available at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, UK. Understanding selfish genes and selfish self-fertilisation Supervisors: Matthew Hartfield, Cei Abreu-Goodger, Laura Ross, Lewis Stevens (Wellcome Sanger Institute) Toxin-antidote (TA) gene pairs are a form of selfish genes that ensure their transmission by causing host lethality if not inherited together. Historically, these were mostly known in bacteria, but recent sequencing and experimental studies are finding examples of these gene systems in multicellular species. One intriguing finding arising from these studies is that toxin-antidote systems are seemingly prevalent in species that self-fertilise, where individuals uniparentally reproduce through producing and fusing both male and female gametes. Subsequent work has shown how this reproductive mode favours the spread of these selfish genes as it ensures they are co-inherited between parent and offspring. Given these findings, it raises the question as to whether there are other TA pairs that have yet to be detected; whether they are widespread across other selfing species; and what genetics properties they exhibit that enable them to spread? The goal of this project is to harness genetic, theoretical, and bioinformatic analysis to understand how toxin-antidote systems can be determined from genome data and seek out new cases of them. Specifically, we will take advantage of a massive genome dataset covering several free-living self-fertilising nematodes (C. elegans, C. briggsae, and C. tropicalis). Further details and application instructions, with a deadline of 6th January 2025: https://e4-dtp.ed.ac.uk/e5-dtp/supervisor-led-projects/project?item=1670 I am also happy to sponsor non-UK student applications for Darwin Trust scholarships (https://darwintrust.bio.ed.ac.uk/); please contact me if interested. Deadline for enquiries is the 3rd January 2025. The expected start date for the project is October 2025. Interested students can contact me to ask for more details. Matthew Hartfield m.hartfield@ed.ac.uk hartfieldlab.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. Matthew Hartfield (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)