Bioinformatics project on DNA methylation and personality

Just like humans, great tits consistently differ in a set of correlated behaviour traits. These so called personality traits have a genetic basis, but are shaped by the environment and through learning. DNA Methylation is a chemical change of the DNA that has a heritable component and that is known to affect gene expression. However, DNA methylation is also affected by the environment. In 2019 we are interested in investigating the role of DNA methylation for explaining variation in great tit personality in three datasets. 
In this project you are going to analyze already available sequence data and connect this to a biological question. This project will be in close collaboration with Bernice Sepers (PhD student). 

Possible research questions

• • How does early experience in the nest affect DNA methylation and thereby personality?
• • Is personality-related DNA methylation heritable?
• • Do lines selected for exploratory behaviour differ in DNA methylation?

You will learn how to analyze sequence data of bisulfate treated DNA. You will work on the NIOO bioinformatics server

Duration
starting times are flexible for these projects.

Interested?
Contact Kees van Oers, e-mail: k.vanoers@nioo.knaw.nl / tel.: +31 (0)26 4791 254