| Affiliations: |
To learn more about our lab, check out our website
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| Project Leader: | Bert Foquet Bert.Foquet@gmail.com Entomology |
| Faculty Mentor: |
Dr. Hojun Song, Ph.D.
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Meeting Times:
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To be determined, based upon class schedules of undergraduate students.
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Team Size:
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0 (Team Full)
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| Open Spots: | 0 |
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Special Opportunities:
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This research project is a perfect opportunity to learn exciting molecular techniques like RNAi. Moreover, it is likely to result in publishable data, giving undergraduate students not only a valuable research experience but also co-authorship on a paper.
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Team Needs:
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We need motivated undergraduate students with a capacity to learn. A background in Entomology or molecular work is preferred but not needed. Students joining our lab will use a wide variety of techniques including behavioral assays, picture analysis, grasshopper rearing and molecular techniques like RNA-extractions, qPCR and RNAi.
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Description:
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Locusts are grasshoppers that swarm and exhibit density-dependent phase polyphenism, meaning they occur in two different phases dependent on locust density. The solitarious phase is found under low density, and is represented by inactive individuals that avoid each other, and green nymphal coloration. In contrast, individuals in the gregarious phase, found under high density, are highly active, are attracted by each other and their nymphal coloration consists of black spots on a yellow/orange background. Our lab is characterizing this polyphenism at a molecular level in the Central-American locust (Schistocerca piceifrons) and three related non-swarming grasshoppers. To achieve this goal, we use RNA interference (RNAi) technology to reduce gene expression of well-chosen target genes, and analyze its influence on locust behavior.
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