As part of planning the fieldwork for the upcoming Kenya expedition to sample DNA from highland-lowland lineages of white-eyes we thought that data on gene expression might be a nice additional source of information to be linked to the genomic work we seek. However, none of us has experience in transcriptomics or how we can preserve RNA under tropical field conditions.
The recent literature is filling up with interesting studies on avian transcriptomics that are very inspiring reads. As with a lot of stuff in the *omics era, the new techniques allow to work on a lot of exciting questions. To learn more about the topic from first hand experiences and to frame possible future work with a transcriptomic twist in the white-eyes, we invited Elin Videvall from Lund University for two full days of exciting brainstorm in November.
As part of her PhD, Elin works on interactions of birds and avian malaria during infection and sequences transcriptomes from blood samples to identify the up and downs of gene regulation during the infection process. In an EVENET seminar she presented her newest results in front of a remarkably diverse group of listeners from Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent, followed by stimulating discussions at a nice Coffee & Cookies reception.
For our slightly naïve ideas on sampling white-eye RNA Elin’s stay was really helpful, as we learned that RNA sampling and tropical field condition doesn’t match well together and we definitely need to carefully erode on field logistics in order to get high quality samples (yes, looking at you, liquid nitrogen container).
As for everybody who visits us, smoking heads during the day have to be compensated by good food, company and drinks in Ghent’s medieval city center. Hence, at a later stage conversations shift from gene expression to gin expression, definitely also a field of exciting (social) science. 🙂
Elin will defend her PhD early in 2018 and is keen to continue to work with avian transcriptomes. If you want to learn more about Elin’s work, make sure you check out her website!
Good luck with your defense Elin!