Mining the Genome of Callosobruchus maculatus, Bean Beetle, with a Little Help from Genetic Model Organisms

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2015, Volume 36

Marilee A. Ramesh

Abstract

The number of whole genome sequencing projects has increased rapidly as the technology has made sequencing at this level cheaper and easier to complete. The result has been a vast amount of raw data that could be used as fodder for inquiry-based student projects. A comparative genetic approach utilizes characterized genes from a model system as probes to search for similar genes in the genomes of less studied systems. I have developed a genetics laboratory exercise that mines genes involved in mating and life span in the bean beetles, Callosobruchus maculatus genome using previously characterized genes in Drosophila melanogaster as the initial probes. Students start with the primary literature to identify potential genes in D. melanogaster and collect those sequences from GenBank. Gene and protein sequences were used to probe the bean beetle genome for similar sequences. The identified sequence fragments were evaluated for validity as possible homologs. The approach can be applied to on-going genome sequencing projects, not requiring the project to be complete or annotated, thus providing the students an opportunity to work with raw sequence data.

Keywords:  genes, Callosobruchus maculatus, genome sequencing

University of Oregon (2014)