Kyley and I are working in Aj. Siriwadee's lab amongst 10 other students. Each student is working on their own project, all related to genetics and molecular biology. I am working with two students who are building a genome of common reptile and amphibian species in Thailand. They are pursuing answers to the question of the genetic relationships amongst various species found all around Chiang Mai. During the week we extracted DNA from samples of frogs and snakes that were collected from the field. We are currently running an analysis to map the genetics and relatedness of the species.
This project is a molecular subset of a broader goal. The lead of the project (called Cham) is hoping to study the ecology and behavior of amphibians and reptiles in the area once he successfully builds a genome to map their genetic relationships. By doing this, he will gain a broader understanding of how these species behave in the wild, how they are affected by their habitat and environmental conditions, and in turn how they affect the land and other species around them. Building a genome allows the students to understand how the species are related, which is an important component in understanding their ecology and interactions. The more we understand about these types of things, the better equipped we are to understand how the world works and to protect biodiversity in an increasingly human world.
-Miranda
This project is a molecular subset of a broader goal. The lead of the project (called Cham) is hoping to study the ecology and behavior of amphibians and reptiles in the area once he successfully builds a genome to map their genetic relationships. By doing this, he will gain a broader understanding of how these species behave in the wild, how they are affected by their habitat and environmental conditions, and in turn how they affect the land and other species around them. Building a genome allows the students to understand how the species are related, which is an important component in understanding their ecology and interactions. The more we understand about these types of things, the better equipped we are to understand how the world works and to protect biodiversity in an increasingly human world.
-Miranda