Genetics and evolution of transmissible cancers in marine environments
Research Area
My group studies the processes by which clonally transmissible cancers emerge, evolve and spread in marine environments. In particular, a family of leukaemia-like contagious cancers known as bivalve transmissible neoplasias (BTNs) have recently been discovered in several species of marine bivalve molluscs, including clams, cockles and mussels. These infectious marine cancers can spread between genetically unrelated hosts through waterborne transfer of cancer cells, sometimes across entire oceans.
BTNs have emerged at least 10 independent times in a variety of bivalve species. Some of these cancers are exceptionally long-lived, having existed as continuously propagating cell lines for hundreds or thousands of years. BTNs thus offer an unparalleled platform for investigating how cancer genomes evolve over very long time-frames, and for understanding the evolutionary consequences of the transition from somatic cell to parasitic unicellular species.
Our research aims to improve understanding of the genetic causes, natural diversity, evolutionary histories, and ecological impacts of BTNs. Our work involves collecting and screening live bivalves with the help of collaborators in several countries; applying advanced technologies such as laser capture microdissection and single-cell sequencing to large numbers of tumour samples; and developing specialised computational methods for evolutionary analyses of cancer genomes.
Project Interests
I am interested in co-developing projects investigating the genomic features of different independent bivalve transmissible cancers in order to find recurrent genetic hallmarks. This would involve laser microdissection of tumour samples and advanced bioinformatic analysis of tumour genomes. Alternatively, I am interested in ideas for studying chromosomal instability in bivalve transmissible cancers, which would involve collecting live specimens in the UK, performing cytogenetic and single-cell sequencing experiments, and analysing the resulting data. The data could be either chromosome imaging data from cell metaphases, or computational copy number data obtained through single-cell sequencing. Any project would involve a substantial computational component.
