Sexual Reproduction Genes in Various Hydra Strains
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Scarlett Ortega Velez
Scarlett Ortega Velez
Environmental Studies/ Economics
University of California, Santa Cruz
Introduction
Introduction
Hydra are freshwater polyps, used in various research facilities due to their adaptability, resilience, and ability to survive. Hydra belongs to the phylum Cnidaria, alongside jellyfish, coral, and sea anemones. To reproduce, Hydra normally reproduces asexually, through budding (as seen in the picture below). However, Hydra can also reproduce sexually, depending on whether the environment causes stress to the Hydra. When they reproduce sexually, some Hydras grow testes and release sperm into the water, and a female Hydra will carry an egg or four.
Objective
Objective
The following research was conducted to answer the following questions:
Where are the reproduction genes in the genomes of Hydra AEP?
In which tissues are they expressed?
Do all Hydra strains have the same sexual reproduction genes?
Methodology
Methodology
To conduct the research, I had to use Hummingbird, a UCSC research computing cluster, to extract Hydra oligactis sequences. I then aligned the genes by using a basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) through the NIH website. I did this for multiple genes and collected Hydra AEP gene information, and collected the data. I then compared the Hydra index figure to see where the genes are most present in.
Figure 1- Graphical summary of all significant alignments along the query sequence. Darker bars represent stronger hits, with the top match covering most of the query, and additional partial matches distributed across the sequence.
Figure 2- Alignments of the query to top matching regions in the reference, indicating high sequence similarity and minimal gaps.
Figure 3- Cell information on plot table vs gene expression on reduced dimensions of gene DMC1.
Results
Results
19 sequences were aligned and localized in total. In Hydra AEP, we found all of the sexual reproduction genes that Hydra oligactis has. I also found a potential gene duplication, HVAEP1.G001605, Human Gene Name SPA17
The following steps would be to better understand what each distinct cell type or subpopulation does and the correlation it has with how the genes are in the cell types. Alongside, comparing other Hydra strains such as Hydra AEP or Hydra Inverse Watermelon.
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
Thank you to
The Koert Foundation, for allowing me to work while providing financial support.
The Macias-Munoz Lab for creating the best environment to work in!
The Cultivamos Excelencia Research Scholars Program opened the world of lab work to me when I didn't think I could as a transfer student.
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