Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
This opportunity is not published. No applications will be accepted.
Assembling the Lolium multiflorum mitochondrion and chloroplast genomes
This project aims at assembling the chloroplast and mitochondrion genomes of Lolium multiflorum.
The advent of high throughput sequencing has allowed to produce genomic data at a much lower cost and for an unprecedented number of organisms. Consequently, in the last decade the geneticists’ focus could move beyond the study of model organisms, focusing first on major crops and animals, and reaching nowadays a multitude of species. Our research group studies forage plants and other minor crops, focusing on the characterization of relevant genetic traits and their application to breed new varieties. We generated a whole-genome assembly of the Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), as a model for our grass genetics and genomics research. One important component of a plant’s genetic information lies in the chloroplast and mitochondrion, which store the genetic information in their own genomes as small, independent, and circular molecules. Currently, there are no organellar assemblies for our cultivar of interest, and establishing a good quality reference sequence for both organelles will be a key step to help describe important biological traits of Italian Ryegrass.
The advent of high throughput sequencing has allowed to produce genomic data at a much lower cost and for an unprecedented number of organisms. Consequently, in the last decade the geneticists’ focus could move beyond the study of model organisms, focusing first on major crops and animals, and reaching nowadays a multitude of species. Our research group studies forage plants and other minor crops, focusing on the characterization of relevant genetic traits and their application to breed new varieties. We generated a whole-genome assembly of the Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), as a model for our grass genetics and genomics research. One important component of a plant’s genetic information lies in the chloroplast and mitochondrion, which store the genetic information in their own genomes as small, independent, and circular molecules. Currently, there are no organellar assemblies for our cultivar of interest, and establishing a good quality reference sequence for both organelles will be a key step to help describe important biological traits of Italian Ryegrass.
In this Master thesis project, we aim at assembling the chloroplast and mitochondrion genomes of Lolium multiflorum. We will apply state of the art software and protocols on available high quality sequence data.
In this Master thesis project, we aim at assembling the chloroplast and mitochondrion genomes of Lolium multiflorum. We will apply state of the art software and protocols on available high quality sequence data.
This project will focus on identifying and applying the most appropriate tools and protocols to produce high quality chloroplast and mitochondrion assemblies. The student will learn and adopt different principles to reach the desired outcome, such as de novo and reference-guided assembly, short read alignment to a reference, scaffolding, assembly validation and annotation. Once the basic bioinformatics concepts are established, the adoption of creative methods will be encouraged.
This project will focus on identifying and applying the most appropriate tools and protocols to produce high quality chloroplast and mitochondrion assemblies. The student will learn and adopt different principles to reach the desired outcome, such as de novo and reference-guided assembly, short read alignment to a reference, scaffolding, assembly validation and annotation. Once the basic bioinformatics concepts are established, the adoption of creative methods will be encouraged.
You will gain experience in different aspects of sequence assembly, annotation, genome alignment and many more. The project will be a guided introduction to modern genomics and computational biology.
You will gain experience in different aspects of sequence assembly, annotation, genome alignment and many more. The project will be a guided introduction to modern genomics and computational biology.
A motivated student with interest in genomics, bioinformatics and evolutionary biology. Knowledge of genetics, molecular biology, as well as basic command line skills are required.
A motivated student with interest in genomics, bioinformatics and evolutionary biology. Knowledge of genetics, molecular biology, as well as basic command line skills are required.
For any questions or details, please contact Dr. Dario Copetti (dario.copetti@usys.ethz.ch).
For any questions or details, please contact Dr. Dario Copetti (dario.copetti@usys.ethz.ch).