Project Description
This research will be divided in two different projects. First, the student will assist on the tasks associated with the cultivation in the lab of a gametophyte germplasm collection of giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera. This is part of a department of energy (Arpa-e agency) project which aims to use genomic selection to improve the species in phenotypic traits of interest to breeders. The economic target for the future aquaculture of this species is biofuel extraction but other seaweed usages are also possible and are being considered by the research team. The second project is to assist the graduate assistant in the lab on her work on the spatial genetic structure of the Bull Kelp.
Tasks and Responsibilites
While working on the arapa-e project, the student will regularly control the quality of gametophyte cultures as well as undertake the necessary steps to promote their growth. These involved a combination of microscopy and culture techniques from production and replacement of growth media to fragmentation of the gametophyte biomass. The student will also be solidifying their experience in molecular biology by extracting DNA from these cultures and learning how to use microsatellite genetic markers to genotype them (check for contamination, and paternity analysis). Beyond running the PCR techniques involved in genotyping individual samples, the student will also learn how to analyze this type of data from scoring genotypes to estimating genetic kinship between samples and perform q spatial analysis of genetic structure.
Desired Qualifications
None listed