Evolution of Chordate ParaHox Gene Regulation

该项目将包括对脊索动物ParaHox基因群的调查，特别是研究在它们之间运作的调控机制。副hox基因是hox基因的进化姐妹，在表达上也表现出共线性。研究ParaHox的一个特别的优点是只有三个ParaHox基因，这提供了一个更简单的系统来研究与Hox基因相比。用于研究这些基因的生物将是文昌鱼、被囊鱼和雏鸟。提供了在脊椎动物基部的两轮全基因组复制之前和之后观察集群的作用的方法。使用这三种生物还提供了观察完整和分散的集群的机会。总的来说，这三个物种之间的比较将用于研究Parahox基因在早期动物的进化和多样化中的作用。该项目将通过使用VISTA和MULAN等程序识别感兴趣基因上游区域的保守性来实现这一目标，以确定该区域内保守的转录因子结合位点。在确定潜在的转录因子后，原位杂交可以用来比较三个物种之间的表达。在此基础上的扩展可以是使用Crispr基因敲除或靶向突变（可以引入双点突变）来比较不同生物体之间的差异。

The project will involve an investigation into the chordate ParaHox gene cluster, specifically looking atthe regulatory mechanisms operating across them. ParaHox genes are the evolutionary sister to the Hoxgenes and too exhibit collinearity in expression. A particular advantage of studying the ParaHox genesis that there are only three ParaHox genes, which provides a simpler system to investigate in comparisonto the Hox genes. The organisms used to study these genes will be amphioxus, the tunicate ciona and the chick. Providingthe means to look at the role of the cluster both before and after the two rounds of whole genomeduplication at the base of the vertebrates. Using all three organisms also provides the opportunity to lookat both intact and dispersed clusters. Overall, comparisons between the three species will be used toinvestigate the role of the Parahox genes in the evolution and diversification of the earliest animals. The project will achieve this by identifying conservation in upstream regions of our genes of interest usingprograms like VISTA and MULAN to identify conserved transcription factor binding sites within this region.Following identification of potential transcription factors, in-situ hybridisation could be used to compareexpression across the three species. Expansion on this could be to use gene knock out using Crispr ortargeted mutanogenesis (can introduce double point mutations) compare between the differentorganisms.