This project will form part of the building blocks of a PhD project focusing on the effect of large impact events on the epigenome of African elephants.
Epigenetics is the study of how gene activity is regulated without changing the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetic changes affect when, where, and how strongly genes are expressed. These changes can be temporary or long-lasting, and some can even be passed down to offspring.
Currently direct evidence of epigenetic changes in African elephants due to major life events is lacking and existing research underscores the significant impact of environmental and social stressors on their physiology.
Stress Detection
Chronic stress (e.g., from poaching, captivity, or habitat disruption) may lead to epigenetic changes in genes linked to immune function, growth, and reproduction. If we can detect these changes we can monitor how environmental stress impacts health and it may help identify individuals or populations at risk before physical symptoms appear.
Understanding Long-Term Effects of Trauma
Events like losing a matriarch or being orphaned may leave epigenetic “scars” that influence behaviour, stress levels, or even fertility. Understanding this helps improve management in fenced systems (e.g., better social structures) as well as informing strategies to rehabilitate traumatized wild elephants.
Adaptation & Resilience
Epigenetic studies may reveal how elephants adapt (or fail to adapt) to changing environments. This can guide translocation efforts (moving elephants to new areas) and even climate resilience strategies (e.g., how heat or drought impacts long-term health).
The first aim of this project is to develop a cost-effective method of DNA extraction from three sample types (i.e., blood, skin and dung) to obtain DNA of the highest quantity and quality for Oxford Nanopore (ONT) long-read sequencing.
The second aim is to develop a non-invasive method where dung samples could be utilized as a substitute for invasive blood samples.
