|
PhD project areas for 2007Molecular, mathematical and synthetic biology of clock gene networksThe biological clock drives 24-hour sleep rhythms in humans, but also controls 5-15% of genes in eukaryotic genomes. This pervasive rhythmicity affects processes ranging from photosynthesis (Dodd et al., Science 2005) and flowering in plants, to solar navigation in birds and butterflies, to cancer risk in mammals. A small network of ~20 genes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana generates the rhythms that ultimately control >3000 downstream genes in this species (Edwards et al., Plant Cell 2006). Our group recently used mathematical models of the plant clock to study unexplained data, which we generated using real time reporter gene imaging in intact plants. Simulations using these ODE models predicted the existence and properties of a new clock gene, which we then identified in molecular genetic experiments (Locke et al. Molecular Systems Biology 2005, 2006).
To be considered for funding, PhD candidates with EU or UK citizenship should email Prof. Millar (andrew.millar [ at ] ed.ac.uk). You should enclose a CV, names of referees and a 1-2 page statement indicating your interests in systems biology, which of our project(s) most interest you and how you can contribute to our interdisciplinary team. Overseas candidates should contact Prof. Millar only if they have an internationally excellent track record or access to external funding. For further detail on application procedures, please refer to the School's postgraduate pages. |
Privacy and cookies. All content copyright University of Edinburgh unless otherwise stated. |