Sinking Rate of Skeletonema Mutants in Reponse to Gene Inactivation and Nutrient Status

Sinking is an important cellular response in diatoms that allows them to exit the upper mixed layer of the water column when conditions are unfavourable for growth. We know that diatoms have physiological control over sinking, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood.

The goal of my project is to identify the genes and environmental conditions that contribute to sinking in diatoms. I will do this by:
1) Performing sinking assays on mutants of the diatom Skeletonema. I will be provided cells that have genes inactivated at random and will identify those with mutations in “sinking genes” by selecting those with an altered sinking rate.
2) Measuring the sinking rate in response to varying nutrient levels.

This project will help us understand how primary producers respond to environmental changes, with major implications for global processes.

Faculty Supervisor:

Douglas Campbell

Student:

Partner:

University of South Bohemia

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health); Aquaculture and Fishing; Environmental Science and Technology

University:

Mount Allison University