Synteny and Genetic Conservation of the Microtubule Star Gene in the Drosophila busckii and Drosophila hydei Species as Compared to Drosophila melanogaster

Presenter

Parker Huggins

Group Members

Radclyffe R. Hall

Campus

Quinsigamond Community College

Sponsor

Jessica Crowley, Department of Biology, Quinsigamond Community College

Schedule

Session 3, 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C16, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 2 (C11-C20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

As species evolve their genetics will drift, however it is expected for genes to maintain their function by having a high amount of genetic conservation between related species. The gene structure of microtubule star, which encodes a protein subunit of the PP2A phosphatase that is involved in the insulin signaling pathway in Drosophila (fruit flies), will be analyzed in two related species, Drosophila busckii and Drosophila hydei, and compared to the well-annotated Drosophila melanogaster. Within each species, we will evaluate the genomic neighborhood to look for synteny with the reference species. Genetic features within the DNA sequence, such as intron/exon boundaries, protein coding regions, 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions, and transcription start sites will be annotated using several lines of bioinformatic evidence, including RNA-seq data, short sequence matching, and BLAST. The annotated gene will be compared to the D. melanogaster reference genome to determine evolutionary differences. This project is part of the Genomics Education Partnership (GEP) Pathways Project, which is working towards the goal of understanding how evolution works and interacts with protein signaling pathways. The GEP is an NSF/NIH supported collaboration among more than two hundred institutions in the U.S. to support undergraduate research in the field of genomics and bioinformatics.

Keywords

Syntey, Bioinformatics, Insulin signaling pathway, genetic conservation, Genetic annotation

Research Area

Genetics

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