Neurogenomics of a Developing Brain Under Heat and Nutrient Stress (Hybrid)

Course Description:

Climate change is a pressing issue, forcing organisms to contend with extreme temperatures and weather events. Without sufficient genetic diversity and/or phenotypic plasticity, populations may not be able to tolerate drastic environmental changes and subsequent ecological challenges such as limited dietary options. Predicting the survival outcomes requires understanding the complex relationships among relevant factors such as sex-specific metabolic rates and host-microbiota interactions. Laboratory-reared fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) have low genetic diversity, and female and male flies can be easily distinguished based on morphological features, making them an ideal model to identify sex-specific physiological adaptations under stress. In this 10-weeks hybrid research course that meets twice per week – once virtually, and once in-person (lab) program, students will maintain and differentiate female and male fruit flies and observe how their behaviors differ under various combinations of temperature and diet conditions. Students will also learn to extract DNA and RNA from fly tissues and analyze microbiome and gene expression data to identify sex-specific responses to environmental stressors.

This course will incorporate multiple research methods, including DNA extraction and quantification, metagenomic sequencing using nanopore technology, and behavioral assays. Students will work in small teams in the lab to discuss theoretical concepts and primary scientific literature, design experiments, perform research, analyze the data, and prepare scientific report. The course will conclude with a formal science seminar during which the students will present their work in person to a selected audience.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Maintain and identify female and male fruit flies and microdissection their brains
• Develop testable scientific hypothesis and design a statistically relevant experimental design
• Critically assess primary scientific literature
• Become familiar with molecular biology concepts including DNA and RNA structure, transcription, and gene expression quantification
• Isolate and assess the quality of DNA
• Perform behavioral bioassays and generate data
• Utilize metagenomics sequencing (nanopore)
• Apply statistical methods to analyze differential gene expression
• Apply fundamental bioinformatics analysis to infer biological relevance of experimental exposures
• Designs a scientific poster and present their finding in a formal science seminar setting

Course Topics:

• Brain physiology
• Gene expression regulation
• Genotype vs phenotype
• Histones vs nucleosomes
• DNA vs RNA
• Central dogma
• Transcription
• Translation
• Experimental design concepts
• Biological vs technical replicates
• Negative vs positive controls
• DNA extraction steps
• Nanopore Sequencing
• Sex-specific behavior assessment
• Data management and statistical analysis un “R”

Quarter Dates, Schedules, and Deadlines