Shannon is using qPCR to measure the relative copy number of Pokey elements in the rDNA of Daphnia pulex and Daphnia pulicaria and its relationship to rDNA copy number.  In addition, she is surveying Pokey insertion site variation in the rest of the genome in Daphnia isolates reproducing by obligate and cyclical parthenogenesis.

 Syed Omar, MSc candidate 

Syed is using the yeast 2 hybrid system to determine what proteins bind to Upstream Binding Factor (UBF) and a protein of unknown function, which both bind to the ribosomal Intergenic Spacer (IGS) of Caenorhabditis elegans.  Syed will also use EMSA to determine the impact of sequence variation on the ability of the proteins to bind to the IGS.

 Tyler Elliott, MSc candidate 

Tyler is using a yeast transformation system to determine the transposition rate of the DNA transposon, Pokey, which occurs in the rDNA of species in the subgenus Daphnia (Cladocera, Crustacea). Tyler is co-advised by Dr. Ryan Gregory

Visit Tyler's blog about transposons.