NTU Undergraduates' research April 2014 - Biosciences | Page 110

Evolutionary Rescue In A Bacteriophage
Fiona Ibanichuka

Abstract
Evolutionary Rescue (ER) is a concept whereby genetic mutations can occur rapidly to prevent the decline of
a population once it has been exposed to threatening environmental pressures. In order to assess the idea
of ER this investigation subjected the bacteriophage ΦX174 to varied conditions, growing long and short
term viral cultures at 37°C and a short term viral culture at 42°C. By sequencing isolates formed at these
conditions and comparing them to a reference sequence any mutations that may have occurred could be
located. Due to errors within the protocol no mutations were found after the sequencing process, however
through comparison to previous studies undertaking similar investigations expected mutations could still be
evaluated and how to improve the protocol used in this investigation could be acknowledged.
Keywords: Evolutionary Rescue, Bacteriophage, ФX174, Sequencing, PCR, Fitness