Fabiana Franco
University of Leicester
Project
Early life environment changes how organisms age
Supervisors
- Prof Eamonn Mallon
- Prof Charalambos Kyriacou
PhD Summary
My PhD project is looking at how early life environments can change how individuals age. By using the insect model Nasonia vitripennis, I will be looking at the interlink between epigenetic modifications and early life environments to predict why individuals and species age so differently. One of the ageing theories, the programmatic theory, believes that genes that are needed during development, don’t get turned off, but instead they keep being expressed throughout life, and this overexpression is what actually drives ageing. A possible way to study this correlation is by looking at real life examples of senescence plasticity, where distinct changes in early life environments can lead to a dramatic switch in ageing strategy. An example of this is larval diapause (an overwintering strategy which halts larval development) and, in Nasonia, it was found that adults from diapaused larvae live much longer than non-diapaused adults. I will build on this knowledge and investigate whether the same or similar genes are differentially expressed in developing wasps during diapause, compared to adult wasps, to try to find link between development and ageing.
Previous activity
Before starting my PhD, I undertook an Integrated Master’s in Biological Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, with a specific focus on animal behaviour, evolutionary biology and genetics. While there, I expanded my research knowledge through my MSci project, which looked at the dual effects of diesel and salinity on the physiological, behavioural and molecular responses in sea anemones (Actinia equina); and through my Honour’s project, which investigated the role of DNA methylation as a driver of individuality in clones of sea anemones. During my degree, I also worked as a laboratory assistant in the Zoology Department of my university, where for two years, I carried out experiments on the evolution of female multiple mating in bean beetles (Callosobruchus maculatus). On the summer between my fourth and fifth year, I also undertook an undergraduate research placement in the Geosciences Department, looking at microplastic distribution and their controls in the Tay Estuary.
Why did you choose doctoral research?
I have always been a curious person, fascinated by learning about the biology of life. What made me choose to continue my career path in academia by undertaking a PhD, however, was my research experience at the University of Aberdeen. In fact, during my time there, I realised I really enjoyed working in a laboratory setting, collecting data and coming up with possible explanations for my results. I also found very interesting looking for knowledge gaps in the literature and come up with experimental designs to address them. Furthermore, I was able to make connections with professors and PhD students while working as a laboratory assistant, and got a snapshot of what a career in academia would look like and it felt very exciting!
Why did you choose CENTA?
What attracted me to the CENTA studentship was the wide range of opportunities it offered; like a multidisciplinary training programme, which would allow me to develop useful transferrable skills, and a placement scheme, which could expand my research knowledge outside of my field or academia. I also liked that the CENTA cohorts spanned across different universities and scientific themes, promoting an interdisciplinary environment.
Future plans
I think that, by doing a CENTA funded PhD, I will not only develop a wide range of scientific skills, which will enable me to become an independent researcher in my field, but I will also acquire a range of interdisciplinary and soft skills which will equip me to continue my career path in academia, or to switch to industry, as I’m not completely sure of my future plans yet.