The clusters are essentially organizations of similar phages. Each cluster does not have a specific function. The genes within the genomes that belong in the clusters can be assigned functions. The functions are determined using multiple different programs and is the focus of MCDB 2161
Confirming the evolutionary connection is difficult due to the chance that gene transfer caused the similarity years and years ago. To get more evidence I would want to compare more of the phages from each cluster.
DU is a cluster just like any other. There are just only so many letters in the alphabet so they have had to assign cluster double letter names as more clusters are found.
Yes I think so. My hope is that as we learn more about relationships between cluster we will be able to use these relationships to select phages for phage therapy.
40.009133 N, 105.269789 W are the GPS coordinates for the location. This phage was isolated in the phage discovery lab class so I did not personally find this phage
Do you know what the function of these shared genes might be?
Yes! The genes that are shared between these clusters code for virion structure. That means that they code for the structure of the phage.
How do you determine the functions of the individual clusters?
The clusters are essentially organizations of similar phages. Each cluster does not have a specific function. The genes within the genomes that belong in the clusters can be assigned functions. The functions are determined using multiple different programs and is the focus of MCDB 2161
What other experiments could you do to further confirm the evolutionary connection between the clusters?
Confirming the evolutionary connection is difficult due to the chance that gene transfer caused the similarity years and years ago. To get more evidence I would want to compare more of the phages from each cluster.
Were you able to conduct an electron microscopy? If so, could explain what you saw?
An electron microscopy was preformed on this phage when it was isolated. This class was focused on the annotation of the genome.
What exactly is the DU cluster? My experience with phamerator only reflects lettered clusters and numbered subclusters.
DU is a cluster just like any other. There are just only so many letters in the alphabet so they have had to assign cluster double letter names as more clusters are found.
How do you think knowledge of these evolutionary relationships will help with future research regarding things like phage therapy?
Yes I think so. My hope is that as we learn more about relationships between cluster we will be able to use these relationships to select phages for phage therapy.
Where specifically was your phage found at Boulder?
40.009133 N, 105.269789 W are the GPS coordinates for the location. This phage was isolated in the phage discovery lab class so I did not personally find this phage
What kinds of applications does the synteny between the three clusters mentioned in your conclusion have?
The synteny found in this research is the first step to finding connection between these three clusters.