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Mechanisms and consequences of rapid evolution in an extreme environment Kahn, Penelope

Description

Penelope Kahn was a semi-finalist in the 2024 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Penelope presented their research, "Mechanisms and consequences of rapid evolution in an extreme environment." They hope to understand the adaptive traits and trade-offs in organismal evolution under extreme stress conditions, contributing to our understanding of evolutionary dynamics. This research delves into the survival and adaptation mechanisms organisms employ in response to environmental toxins. Utilizing baker's yeast as a model organism due to its rapid evolutionary capability and extensive genetic characterization, Penelope examines yeast’s adaptation to toxic concentrations of heavy metals in controlled lab environments. Their findings reveal diverse evolutionary pathways among yeast populations exposed to heavy metals. Interestingly, adaptation to severe stress incurs growth disadvantages once the stressor is removed, reflecting a broader principle of trade-offs in organismal evolution. Penelope Kahn is completing their PhD in Zoology in the Department of Zoology under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Otto.

Item Metadata

Title
Mechanisms and consequences of rapid evolution in an extreme environment
Creator
Kahn, Penelope
Date Issued
2024-03-12
Description
Penelope Kahn was a semi-finalist in the 2024 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Penelope presented their research, "Mechanisms and consequences of rapid evolution in an extreme environment." They hope to understand the adaptive traits and trade-offs in organismal evolution under extreme stress conditions, contributing to our understanding of evolutionary dynamics. This research delves into the survival and adaptation mechanisms organisms employ in response to environmental toxins. Utilizing baker's yeast as a model organism due to its rapid evolutionary capability and extensive genetic characterization, Penelope examines yeast’s adaptation to toxic concentrations of heavy metals in controlled lab environments. Their findings reveal diverse evolutionary pathways among yeast populations exposed to heavy metals. Interestingly, adaptation to severe stress incurs growth disadvantages once the stressor is removed, reflecting a broader principle of trade-offs in organismal evolution. Penelope Kahn is completing their PhD in Zoology in the Department of Zoology under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Otto.
Genre
Presentation; Other
Type
Moving Image; Text
Language
eng
Series
Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
Date Available
2025-01-21
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
DOI
10.14288/1.0447807
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/90172
Affiliation
Science, Faculty of; Zoology, Department of
Peer Review Status
Unreviewed
Scholarly Level
Graduate
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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DSpace

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International