Transposable Element Evolution in Stramenopiles and Choanoflagellates

Demaine, Chloe (2019) Transposable Element Evolution in Stramenopiles and Choanoflagellates. Masters thesis, University of Huddersfield.

Preview

PDF - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract

Transposable elements are parasitic mobile elements that can transpose within host genomes and may have a large impact on the host evolution. Despite this, very few studies have looked into how transposable elements themselves have evolved within unicellular organisms, which make up the vast majority of organisms in existence. In this study, evidence is presented for selection for transposable element codon usage in both the closest relatives to Metaoza –choanoflagellates, and stramenopiles. Both choanoflagellates studied show evidence for selective accuracy whilst neither of the stramenopiles do. Selection appears to be stronger within the choanoflagellates than the stramenopiles. Phaeodactylum tricorntum transposable elements are likely to be evolving under mutation pressure rather than selection pressure but there is evidence to suggest Thalassiosira pseudonana transposable element’s codon usage is evolving via selection. The most likely explanation for these findings is that the choanoflagellates have a larger effective population size than the two stramenopiles in this study.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QR Microbiology
Schools:	School of Applied Sciences
Depositing User:	Rebecca Hill
Date Deposited:	27 Jun 2019 08:31
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2019 08:31
URI:	http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/34888

Downloads

Repository Staff Only: item control page

View Item