Project Title: Development of the semicircular canal system: a comparative study
Supervisor: Dr Tanya Whitfield. (BMS and CDBG)
Application deadline: Wednesday 31 October 2012.
The three semicircular canals of the vertebrate inner ear and their associated sensory patches, the cristae, are some of the most intricate epithelial structures of the body. Their formation in the embryo requires a series of morphological rearrangements involving the outgrowth, folding and fusion of sheets of epithelium. Various genes have been identified that are required for normal semicircular canal formation, but it is not known whether these are conserved across vertebrate species.
This project will involve a comparative analysis of gene function in zebrafish, chick and mouse, in collaboration with the Wu lab (NIH, USA). The aim is to test whether genes identified through gene profiling or mutagenesis in one model system have a similar function in others, using a range of different experimental approaches. The Whitfield and Wu labs would like to identify a student who is interested in applying to the Wellcome
Trust/NIH studentship scheme to undertake this project.
For details of this exciting scheme, see:
Application deadline: 31 October 2012
Applicants should have, or hope to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class degree, or equivalent, and an enthusiasm for developmental biology. Interested students should contact Dr Whitfield as soon as possible in order to discuss this opportunity.
Email: t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk
References:
A late role for bmp2b in the morphogenesis of semicircular canal ducts in the zebrafish inner ear.
Hammond KL, Loynes HE, Mowbray C, Runke G, Hammerschmidt M, Mullins MC, Hildreth V, Chaudhry B, Whitfield TT.
PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4368. Epub 2009 Feb 3.
PMID: 19190757
Free PMC Article
Bmp4 is essential for the formation of the vestibular apparatus that detects angular head movements.
Chang W, Lin Z, Kulessa H, Hebert J, Hogan BL, Wu DK.
PLoS Genet. 2008 Apr 11;4(4):e1000050.
PMID: 18404215
Free PMC Article
Contact details:
Dr Tanya Whitfield
http://cdbg.shef.ac.uk/research/whitfield/
Further Information:
To apply formally for a PhD Studentship or Postgraduate Taught Course, you must complete the University's application form. See our 'How to Apply' page.