Eusocial insects are a classic example of phenotypic plasticity, where a wide diversity of morphological and behavioural castes can arise from a shared set of genes. A key goal in genetics is to understand how a single genotype can produce such an array of phenotypes.
I am carrying out a bio-informatics based research masters, analysing an RNAseq dataset from several Dinoponera quadriceps individuals. Using various computational methods, my aim is to understand how transcription profiles change with caste, as well as identifying genes, gene networks and the corresponding cellular functions associated with caste differentiation.