The Catcher in the Rye: detect rare plants using DNA from environment
- Beschreibung
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is like a genetic fingerprint. It allows us to figure out what plants and animals live in an area just by testing the traces of DNA they leave behind in their environment. In this project, we are using flying insects as tiny, flying biomonitors. We catch them in traps, and we want to see if we can find the "invisible" plant DNA they carry on their bodies. We are specifically looking for Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts). These are very important plants for the ecosystem, but they are understudied. To find their DNA, we need a PCR primer—a tiny genetic search tool. That is where you come in!
To better understand the organisms you will be working with, the project also involves a field trip to get to know local bryophyte diversity.
Your main tasks will be:
- Computer work: Helping to design new genetic primers using different bioinformatics tools and databases.
- Lab work: Testing your new primers in our molecular lab using standard techniques like DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. In the end, we will perform sequencing to find out what species you were able to catch throughout your work.
- Projektzeitraum
- Wintersemester 2026/2027
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 12. bis 26.10.2026
- Durchführung
- nach Absprache
- Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung
This project is offered through the Natural History Museum Stuttgart and will be supervised there through Anna Katasheva.
- Studienfach
-
Agrarbiologie
Agrarwissenschaften
Biologie - Betreuende
- Margaret Eppli, Dr. Ann-Catrin Fender, Joanna Costello
- Institut
- Institut für Biologie (190) (KomBioTa (101))
- Sprache
- englisch
- Teilnehmendenanzahl
- min. 1, max. 3
- Arbeitsaufwand
-
ca. 180 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r
| 6
ECTS-Punkte
Arbeitsaufwand (Stunden und ggf. ECTS) sind ungefähre Angaben. Die tatsächlich vergebenen ECTS-Punkte ergeben sich aus der tatsächlich geleisteten Arbeit.
- Für dieses Projekt ist kein Motivationsschreiben des Studierenden erforderlich
- Projektart
- experimentell
- Lernziele
-
Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:
- Learn how to utilize bioinformatics tools to design primers and analyze sequencing data.
- Gain confident, hands-on experience in a molecular biology lab (DNA extraction, PCR).
- Understand the basics of modern biodiversity monitoring.
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
You do not need to be an expert to apply! We will teach you both lab and bioinformatic parts. If you have high motivation to learn molecular genetics methods, with a focus on eDNA approaches in a friendly environment, you are the perfect fit. Contact us at anna.kartasheva@smns-bw.de.
- Schlagworte
- eDNA, plants, Lab work, PCR, ecology, field work