Eagles sequencing RNA on campus to study the regulation of gene expression in bacteria grown under microgravity conditions
Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Janelle Hicks, Senior Collin Topolski, PhD Student
Lead Presenter's Name
Janelle Hicks
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Hugo Castillo
Abstract
We continue to discover the effects of space conditions on the regulation of gene expression on cells thanks to the use of high-throughput sequencing techniques. The same protocols used to sequence the human genome decades ago are now used to understand how environmental factors like microgravity or increased radiation change the way bacteria grow in space, and in consequence, how they interact with humans. As part of the Aerospace Physiology program, we now have the Omics Lab where we are currently working on sequencing RNA libraries from several experiments exploring the effect long term exposure to microgravity and increased radiation backgrounds on different microbial models such as Escherichia coli, Vibrio fisheri and Chlorella vulgaris. With this new facility on campus we are able to conduct experiments using a microgravity analog in the Space Microbiology Lab, construct and sequence RNA libraries in the Omics Lab and perform a bioinformatic analysis to identify which genes are responsive to our treatment.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Eagles sequencing RNA on campus to study the regulation of gene expression in bacteria grown under microgravity conditions
We continue to discover the effects of space conditions on the regulation of gene expression on cells thanks to the use of high-throughput sequencing techniques. The same protocols used to sequence the human genome decades ago are now used to understand how environmental factors like microgravity or increased radiation change the way bacteria grow in space, and in consequence, how they interact with humans. As part of the Aerospace Physiology program, we now have the Omics Lab where we are currently working on sequencing RNA libraries from several experiments exploring the effect long term exposure to microgravity and increased radiation backgrounds on different microbial models such as Escherichia coli, Vibrio fisheri and Chlorella vulgaris. With this new facility on campus we are able to conduct experiments using a microgravity analog in the Space Microbiology Lab, construct and sequence RNA libraries in the Omics Lab and perform a bioinformatic analysis to identify which genes are responsive to our treatment.