Population-level analysis of pervasive transcription and translation in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus

Advisor: Christian Rödelsperger

Location: Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen

The origin of novelty is a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Numerous genetic studies across the whole animal kingdom have demonstrated that important phenotypic differences across taxa can be linked to the formation of novel genes. Pervasive transcription and translation has been found to expose previously non-coding sequences to novel cellular contexts. This can ultimately result in the formation of de novo genes that are eventually integrated into cellular networks.

A figure depicting the model of population-level gene gain and loss — Model of population-level gene gain and loss. Pervasive transcription and translation can generate novel transcripts and proteins. Such expressed sequences are assumed to be rapidly lost unless they become integrated into the biology of their host. However, throughout the lifetime of such sequences, point mutations and indels can change their coding status. The main goal of this project is to characterize and quantify transitions between different genic states across various strains of *P. pacificus*.

Model of population-level gene gain and loss. Pervasive transcription and translation can generate novel transcripts and proteins. Such expressed sequences are assumed to be rapidly lost unless they become integrated into the biology of their host. However, throughout the lifetime of such sequences, point mutations and indels can change their coding status. The main goal of this project is to characterize and quantify transitions between different genic states across various strains of *P. pacificus*.

The main goal of this project is to characterize the evolutionary dynamics of transcription and translation at a population level in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus. To this end, the student will need to perform RNA-Seq and Ribo-Seq experiments in several strains of P. pacificus and also in other closely related species. These data sets can then be combined with already existing chromosome-level genome assemblies in order to define and compare genic states between different strains. This will ultimately allow us to quantify which mechanisms (gain of transcription and translation, ORF switching, indels and structural variations) predominantly contribute to the emergence of novel genes in P. pacificus.

More information about the research of Christian Rödelsperger and a selection of recent publications can be found on his faculty page.

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Application deadline: 19 January 2026