Project description:Formalin induces inter- and intra-molecular crosslinks within exposed cells. This cross-linking can be exploited to characterise chromatin state as in the MNase (micrococcal nuclease) assays. Our team aims to optimise these assays for application in museum preserved formalin-exposed specimens. To do so, we applied an optimised MNase assay to fresh-frozen and archival eastern water dragon specimens, as old as 1905. We found that heavy formalin fixation modulates rather than eliminates signatures of differential chromatin accessibility and that these chromatin profiles are sex-specific and environmental condition dependent.
Project description:Whole transcriptome RNA sequencing in primary fibroblasts of outbred Peromyscus maniculatus was generated to explore the degree of coordination in gene expression.
Project description:To investigate the effects of bonding experiences on the transcriptome of monogamous P. californicus in the lungs. Our results indicated that the lung transcriptomes of Peromyscus californicus are altered in a manner that depends on pair bonding. Pathways affected include hypoxia response and heart development.