2019 participants
Julian De Zordi
My project involved working with bacteria and analysing how protein levels are controlled within them. The genes which encode for these proteins are controlled by transcription factors which, depending on the environment the cell is in, will result in up or downregulation. This in turn will affect the level of protein made. We used Escherichia coli to perform this experiment. To measure gene expression, fluorescence and population density methods were used. Furthermore, we used a technique called time-lapse microscopy which allowed us to observe changes in real-time and helped us understand the role of transcription factors in controlling gene expression, especially when the cells were placed in a stressful environment. By using bioinformatic tools and applying specific conditions, we are able to further our comprehension of how a population of cells responds to stress, with implications for understanding gene regulation in more complex organisms.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Project Supervisor: Dr Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo