Light entrainment of the circadian clock: identifying natural molecular adaptations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Genetics
Abstract
Circadian clocks are molecular pacemakers that drive daily rhythms in physiology, metabolism, behaviour and other process, and are present in diverse range of organism, from cyanobacteria to human. When detached from ambient cues, circadian clock cycle ('freerun') at periods slightly different from 24 hr. This endogenous rhythm is adjusted to the 24 hr solar day by entrainment to various stimuli, primarily light. Modern life introduces situations, such as trans-atlantic flights and shift work, where the circadian rhythm and the external light cycle are too dissimilar to reconcile; accumulating evidence suggests that people exposed repeatedly to such disruptions suffer from wide range of health problems, including 'jetlag', sleep disorders, seasonal depression, and cancer. In the last few decades, a great deal has been learned about the molecular details of the clock. Drosophila has been instrumental in identifying circadian clock genes, which are well conserved in mammals, both in sequence and function. By inducing mutagenesis and screening for Drosophila mutants that show aberrant light response, two proteins were identified to be involved in light transduction: TIMELESS (TIM), which is a circadian light-sensitive core-clock protein, and CRYPTOCHROME (CRY), a dedicated blue-light photoreceptor of the circadian system. These two proteins interact with each other, and light-activated CRY attaches itself to TIM, degrading it rapidly. Our research at the University of Leicester focuses on natural genetic variation related to circadian photo-responsiveness. Rather than inducing random mutations, we aim to understand the clock mechanism by identifying natural variants, or natural clock alleles that have been evolved in different wild populations, serving as molecular adaptations under different light and temperature conditions. In collaboration with CPK and ER at Leicester and the Costa lab at Padova, we have identified a natural polymorphism in Timeless that involves a single-base insertion/deletion, situated between two alternative translation starts. We have found that this polymorphism follows a robust latitudinal cline and is maintained by directional selection. We subsequently tested natural isolates and transformants flies and found that photo-responsiveness is significantly different between flies with the different alleles. This difference was correlated with the variation we have observed in the photoperiodic response of flies with the different alleles suggesting that this polymorphism represents molecular adaptation to cold environments. Recently, another protein named JETLAG (JET) has been identified as being involved in light-induced degradation of TIM. Interestingly, it turns out that the phenotype of jet mutants is only expressed in strains carrying a specific natural tim allele. These discoveries have demonstrated how natural genetic variation modulates light sensitivity of the circadian clock, and how in turn, could the better characterization of natural adaptations lead to a better understanding of the circadian-clock mechanism. The current proposal is aimed at identifying natural variation in clock genes by testing strains derived from wild-populations, using tools of quantitative genetics combined with molecular techniques. We propose to use various genome-wide screens to identify these variations, including Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping, artificial selection and global expression analysis. Our preliminary QTL screen indicated four genomic regions (QTLs) that show significant contribution to variation in circadian light-sensitivity. By using various deficiency and mutant strains we will carry complementation tests that will allow us to identify the causal sequence variations that account for these variations. The results of this study will allow a better understanding of light entrainment of the clock, and provide candidate genes for studying in mammals, including human.
Technical Summary
The current proposal is aimed to identify natural genetic variations that affect circadian light sensitivity. These variations have been driven by natural selection, serving as molecular adaptations under various light and temperature conditions. In the lab, we use light-pulse experiments to measure circadian light sensitivity: brief light stimulus is presented to animals maintained in continuous darkness. Most organisms, including Drosophila, will respond by shifting their free-running rhythm to a new phase. The size of phase shift corresponds to the light-sensitivity of the fly. We have used quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and identified four significant QTLs that contribute to variation in light sensitivity. To narrow down these QTL intervals, we will carry complementation tests using a series of overlapping deficiency fly strains. Crossing these deficiency strains to the QTL parental lines and testing their light response will allow us to further reduce these QTL intervals. After reducing the QTLs to several kb long, fragments will be cloned and sequenced and nucleotide variations between the QTL parental lines will be identified. Candidate alleles for different variations will be transformed into flies by homologous recombination. Comparing the light sensitivity of these transgenic flies that express different natural alleles will indicate which polymorphic sites are important for circadian light sensitivity. We will also use artificial selection to produce lines that differ in their light sensitivity. The response to selection will provide information about the genetic architecture of this trait, and the selected lines will be tested for divergent gene expression. Differentially expressed genes will be sequenced and polymorphic sites will be identified and tested as above. Finally, we will also exploit variation in light sensitivity between two Drosophila species using custom microarrays and transformant flies.
Organisations
- University of Leicester (Lead Research Organisation)
- Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Collaboration)
- National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) (Collaboration)
- Jagiellonian University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- University of Padova (Collaboration)
- University of Warwick (Collaboration)
- Medical Research Council (MRC) (Collaboration)
- University of Würzburg (Collaboration)
Publications
Adewoye AB
(2017)
Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci Underlying Circadian Light Sensitivity in Drosophila.
in Journal of biological rhythms
Adewoye AB
(2015)
Identification and functional analysis of early gene expression induced by circadian light-resetting in Drosophila.
in BMC genomics
Eran Tauber (Author)
(2012)
Natural variation in cryptochrome in wild populations of Drosophila
Eran Tauber (Co-Author)
(2010)
Quantitative trait loci mapping of circadian photosensitivity in Drosophila
Eran Tauber (Co-Author)
(2011)
Is the circadian clock required for seasonal timing?
Khericha M
(2016)
Neural and non-neural contributions to sexual dimorphism of mid-day sleep in Drosophila melanogaster: a pilot study.
in Physiological entomology
Noreen S
(2018)
Interspecific studies of circadian genes period and timeless in Drosophila
in Gene
Pegoraro M
(2017)
Geographical analysis of diapause inducibility in European Drosophila melanogaster populations.
in Journal of insect physiology
Pegoraro M
(2020)
The genetic basis of diurnal preference in Drosophila melanogaster.
in BMC genomics
Description | The project was aimed at identifying natural polymorphisms in genes that modulate circadian light sensitivity and serve as molecular adaptations in various light/temperature conditions. We assayed the circadian photosensitivity of 123 recombinant inbred (RI) strains generated at the lab of Sergey Nuzhdin at the University of Southern California. Extensive variation in the light response of these lines indicated a substantial heritability of 30% . Interval mapping has indicated a single significant QTL on chromosome 2. We used quantitative deficiency complementation tests, using fly strain carrying defined chromosomal deletions, and refined this QTL interval into two smaller QTL consisting of 140 candidate genes. Complementation tests to null mutation strains suggested segregating alleles of timeless (tim) (and possible cycle ) contribute to the variation in light response. Further genotyping revealed that the previously reported (European) s/ls polymorphism in tim is segregating in our RI strain collection (derived from North-America population), and as expected, is associated with variation in light response of RI strains. To identify candidate genes within these QTLs we carried a global gene expression profiling by microarrays. Two recombinant inbred lines that show different photo-sensitivity, 104 (High) and 58 (Low) were used. RNA was extracted from heads of treated (light-pulse at Zt15) and the control flies (no-pulse), and labelled cDNA was generated and hybridised (a two colour design) to Drosophila oligonucleotide microarrays. We identified the top 500 genes that show large fold change in strain 104 (H), compared to 58 (L). Six genes are located in the QTL interval and may serve as candidates for causative genes underlying the light-sensitivity QTL. A manuscript summarising the QTL mapping is in preparation. In another set of experiments we profiled gene expression in a laboratory wild-type strain (Canton-S) using Affymetrix GeneChips. To date, this is the first dataset in Drosophila showing the whole transcriptome response to light pulse. The analysis revealed 209 differentially expressed genes, with several biological processes such as signal transduction, gene regulation, glutamate receptor activity, cellular communication and chromatin remodelling were statistically over-represented. Targeted knockdown of these genes by dsRNAi in clock neurons has further demonstrated the role of these genes in the light response. In addition, the microarray experiments indicated that histone modifications may also play an important role in light entrainment of the clock. Consistently, an aberrant light response was associated with 6 genes, using mutant and transgenic strains in which histone acetylation, de-acetylation, and methylation (of DNA and histones) is defective. |
Exploitation Route | Our study has generated a large number of candidate genes that play important role in light entrainment of the circadian clock. This provide ideal starting point for other research team to explore the mechanism by which these gene (or genetic variation which these gene) regulate circadian sensitivity. Given the high level of conservation of the circadian system in flies and in human, these candidate genes are likely to be useful for diagnostic of health issues relate to light entrainment of the clock in human, including seasonal depression and shift-word associated sleep disorders. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Genetic dissection of seasonal timing in Drosophila |
Amount | £483,457 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/K001922/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2013 |
End | 01/2016 |
Description | H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017 |
Amount | € 3,809,005 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 765937 |
Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 04/2018 |
End | 05/2021 |
Description | Individual Research Grant |
Amount | 1,088,100 ₪ (ILS) |
Funding ID | 1737/17 |
Organisation | Israeli Science Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Israel |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 10/2021 |
Description | Light entrainment of the circadian clock: identifying natural molecular adaptations |
Amount | £293,672 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/G02085X/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2010 |
End | 01/2013 |
Description | Molecular and Cellular Dissection of Morning and Evening Chronotypes in Drosophila melanogaster |
Amount | £629 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/H018093/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2011 |
End | 01/2014 |
Description | The genetics and genomics of adaptive sex ratio behaviour |
Amount | £588,581 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/J024481/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2012 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | Timeless and diapause in Drosophila |
Amount | £491 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/F014082/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2008 |
End | 12/2012 |
Title | Differential expression of microRNA associated with photoperiod in Drosophila |
Description | global expression of microRNA |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This is the first demonstration of the role of microRNA in seasonal timing, and regulation of insect diapause. |
Title | Expression analysis of circadian light response in Drosophila |
Description | Expression data generated by by global profiling using microarrays. GEO -NCBI; Accession: PRJNA171155; GEO: GSE39578 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2012 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | No actual impacts realised to date |
URL | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA171155 |
Title | Expression analysis of circadian light response in Drosophila recombinant inbred lines (RIL) |
Description | Gene expression profiling by microarrays, comparing two Drosophila recombinant inbred lines, which differed significantly in their circadian light response. GEO accession: GSE77116 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | NA |
URL | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE77116 |
Title | Photoperiodic induction of gene expression in Drosophila |
Description | Microarray data |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This database provides, for the first time, a list of candidate genes associated with seasonal timing and the photoperiodic response. |
Description | BBSRC-funded Midlands Integrative Bioscience Training Partnership. |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | A joint doctoral programme of the universities of Leicester, Birmingham, and Warwick. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | BBSRC-funded Midlands Integrative Bioscience Training Partnership. |
Organisation | University of Warwick |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | A joint doctoral programme of the universities of Leicester, Birmingham, and Warwick. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | CINCHRON |
Organisation | Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic |
Country | Czech Republic |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in our laboratory. |
Collaborator Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in their laboratory. |
Impact | MSCA-ITN-ETN award by the Eurpean Comission (proposal number 765937). 3,809,005 EUR. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | CINCHRON |
Organisation | Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
Country | Israel |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in our laboratory. |
Collaborator Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in their laboratory. |
Impact | MSCA-ITN-ETN award by the Eurpean Comission (proposal number 765937). 3,809,005 EUR. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | CINCHRON |
Organisation | Jagiellonian University |
Country | Poland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in our laboratory. |
Collaborator Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in their laboratory. |
Impact | MSCA-ITN-ETN award by the Eurpean Comission (proposal number 765937). 3,809,005 EUR. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | CINCHRON |
Organisation | National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in our laboratory. |
Collaborator Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in their laboratory. |
Impact | MSCA-ITN-ETN award by the Eurpean Comission (proposal number 765937). 3,809,005 EUR. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | CINCHRON |
Organisation | University of Leicester |
Department | Department of Genetics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in our laboratory. |
Collaborator Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in their laboratory. |
Impact | MSCA-ITN-ETN award by the Eurpean Comission (proposal number 765937). 3,809,005 EUR. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | CINCHRON |
Organisation | University of Padova |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in our laboratory. |
Collaborator Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in their laboratory. |
Impact | MSCA-ITN-ETN award by the Eurpean Comission (proposal number 765937). 3,809,005 EUR. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | CINCHRON |
Organisation | University of Wurzburg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in our laboratory. |
Collaborator Contribution | Planning and preparation of the consortium research proposal for a Marie Curie ETN (CINCHRON). Supervision and training of PhD students in their laboratory. |
Impact | MSCA-ITN-ETN award by the Eurpean Comission (proposal number 765937). 3,809,005 EUR. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | NC3R joint application |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | MRC Human Genetics Unit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | NC3R joint application |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | ABC Radio Interview (Melbourne, Australia) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview to ABC Radio , Melbourne, Australia, covering our research on the genetics of diurnal preference and circadian clocks. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | 'Plasticity in Circadian Rhythms and Sleep' workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | An invited talk at the 'Plasticity in Circadian Rhythms and Sleep' workshop at the Hebrew University orgenised by the Jerusalem Brain Community. The talk was entitled 'Epigenetic regulation of the photoperiodic clock' and sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://scholars.huji.ac.il/jbc/event/save-date-jbc-organized-workshop-plasticity-circadian-rhythms-... |
Description | Career talk at Beauchamp College open day (MP) 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | career talk I gave to the Beauchamp College open day. talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards. Impacts are not known yet. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Chronobiolgy Biology Summer school (Bangalore) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Lectures at the SERC Summer School in Chronobiology, Bangalore, India After my talk, I was approached by several students that were interested in joining my research team. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
Description | Does the Drosophila seasonal timer require a circadian clock? SRBR 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The presentation sparked questions and discussion afterwards Impact has not been realised yet. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.srbr.org/Pages/SRBR_Meeting.aspx |
Description | Dynamic DNA 2011 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Presentation and hands-on activities on Drosophila as model organism, created and delivered by the Tauber lab, as part of a two-day event organised by GENIE to year 9 students. no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Dynamic DNA 2012 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Presentation and hands-on activities delivered by the Tauber lab members on Drosophila as model system, as part of the event organised by GENIE to year 9 students. The activities sparked questions and discussion afterwards. no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://www2.le.ac.uk/news/blog/2012/september/dynamic-dna-demonstration |
Description | Dynamic DNA 2013 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Hands-on activities for school children demonstrating the use of fruitflies in Genetics, as part of the Dynamic DNA day orgenised by GENIE, at the University of Leicester. The activities sparked questions and discussions afterwards. no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/genetics/genie/outreach/dynamic-dna |
Description | Dynamic DNA 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Lecture and hands-on activities with fruit-flies, demonstrating the importance of the concept of model organism in genetic research. Part of 'Dynamic DNA' two days orgenised by the GENIE CETL at the University of Leicester. Teacher reported that the activities aid pupils' understanding of basic concepts in Genetics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Dynamic DNA 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | During two days 417 pupils from various schools have visited the department of genetics and carried out various hand-on activities on genetics. We have provided information and activities about the importance of the fruit-fly as model system for genetic research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | How fruit flies teach us about Genetics and the Brain! |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards. no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Interview BBC Radio Leicester 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | t Jonathan Lampon morning show. The interview sparked questions and discussions. Impact unknown |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p025jkkb |
Description | Interview for Heredity Podocasts (March 2012) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview published as an Internet podcast by the Heredity journal. Podcast (March 2012 episode). Biological clocks - links between daily and seasonal rhythms. no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://webspace.qmul.ac.uk/ranichols/podcast/ |
Description | Interview to The Marker. Daily economic newspaper (Israel) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An article discussing our research entitled "Find it difficult to get up in the morning ? The reason lies in the fruit fly" (in Hebrew). http://www.themarker.com/news/1.2735883 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.themarker.com/news/1.2735883 |
Description | Lecture at Oakham School 2012 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Lecture to sixth form student at Oakham School entitled:"The fruitfly: a key model organism for understanding genetics and the brain". no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | LiveGene! school visit at Beaumont Leys School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | LiveGene! is a project run by the Tauber lab promoting using live fruitflies in the classroom for genetic education. The team visited Beaumont Leys School in Leicester and run various experiments with year 10 students (age 14-15) no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | LiveGene! training January 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | LiveGene! is a project run by the Tauber Lab, promoting the use of live fruit flies in the classroom for genetic education. A training in handling flies was given to school teachers and technicians from 5 different schools in Leicestershire. The training was carried in the GENIE lab at the University of Leicester Kits and live strain of Drosophila for experiments in the classroom Printed material with experiment and lesson plans. After the training, teachers adopted the use of live fruitflies in the genetic lessons in the classroom. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.tinyURL.com/liveGene |
Description | LiveGene! training July 2013 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | LiveGene! is a project run by the Tauber Lab, promoting the use of live fruit flies in the classroom for genetic education. A training in handling flies was given to school teachers and technicians from 7 different schools in Leicestershire. The training was carried at the GENIE lab at the University of Leicester Kits and live strains of Drosophila for experiments in the classroom. Printed material with background and lesson plans. no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | LiveGene! training June 2013 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | LiveGene! is a project run by the Tauber Lab, promoting the use of live fruit flies in the classroom for genetic education. A training in handling flies was given to school teachers from Ashby School. The traning was carried at the GENIE lab at the University of Leicester Kits and live strains of Drosophila for experiments in the classroom. Printed material with experiment and lesson plans. After the training, teachers have adopted the suggested activities with fruitflies in their school. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.tinyURL.com/liveGene |
Description | LiveGene! training at Southfield School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | LiveGene! is a project run by the Tauber Lab, promoting the use of live fruit flies in the classroom for genetic education. A training in handling flies was given to school teachers and technicians at Southfield School, Kettering. no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Modern genetic techniqes workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Full day of Lectures and practical sessions on molecular biology techniques (cloning, PCR) to six form students from Kettering Buccleuch Academy, run in GENIE lab at the Univeristy of Leicester, by the LiveGene! team. After the session, the teacher said that students reported better understanding of the thought material in class and felt better prepared to GCSE. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | National Science & Engineering Week 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A lecture at Beauchamp College (Leicester) during National Science & Engineering Week, explaining the concept of model oragnism and the contribution of Drosophila to research in genetics. Year 12 students (age 16-17). no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | National Science and Engineering Week 2013 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Lecture to Year 13 (age 17 to 18)"The fruitfly: a key model organism for understanding genetics and the brain", Hind Leys College. The talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | New Insights Into the Genetics of Diurnal/Nocturnal Preference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation at the conference of the Society for Research of Biological Rhythms. Palm Harbor, Florida May 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwje4dv4pP... |
Description | New Walk Museum & Art Gallery lunch lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A lecture entitled: "What tiny fruit flies tell us about our genetics and the brain". The talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards. no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Oakham School science careers 07/03/14 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Meeting with Form 5-7 students at Oakham Schook and providing information on different possilbe careers in the Biosciences. After my talk, the school asked if current GCSE pupils could visit my lab |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Radio interview (Perth, Western Australia) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | interview with 882 6PR Radio (Perth, Western Australia) covering our work on genetic differences associated with morningnenss/eveningnes preference in fruit-flies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Role for DNA methylation in insect photoperiodic timing SRBR 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | the talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards. The impact has not been realised yet. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.srbr.org/Pages/SRBR_Meeting.aspx |
Description | School Visit (Haifa) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Giving a lecture on using Drosophila as a model system in genetic research in the local high school. 50 pupils (Year 11) have attended. The school reported increased interest in the related subject area. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | School visit: National Science & Engineering Week 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The talk sparked questions afterwards. After my talk, a few pupils asked for opportunity to work in my lab. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | The diversity, evolution and mechanisms controlling activity patterns (Ein-Gedi, Israel) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation at a workshop entitled: The diversity, evolution and mechanisms controlling activity patterns. Ein-Gedi, Israel no actual impacts realised to date |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://campusteva.tau.ac.il/eng/content/diversity-evolution-and-mechanisms-controlling-activity-patt... |