After discussing behavioral ecology in lecture we continued on with our wet lab. This week in lab I worked on setting up a qPCR from dilution (start) to placement into the heat block (finish). I had 5 DNA samples given to me to prepare dilutions for the class. After that everyone was given dilutions of 15 samples to be amplified via PCR. The DNA had to be diluted because PCR is sensitive to large amounts of DNA and therefore works better under lower concentrations. I assisted with making the master mix after placing 1 microliter of my DNA samples into individual PCR tubes. We decided to create enough master mix for 70 samples to ensure we did not run out of master mix between all of our table mates. The Taq was added last to prevent any immature reactions before mixing with the DNA samples. Something different about this PCR was the use of only one primer, not a forward and a reverse.

Analysis of EPIC Markers

After collecting the genetic sequences, we found out in the end that none of our genomes had amplified successfully during the PCR. Because of this we had to use prior collected data for our analysis of the EPIC markers. My EPIC marker was 5525 and I used 25 samples of Mimulus cardinalis and an out group TG248 (Mimulus lewisii).

I downloaded the sequences from Dr. Paul’s canvas under my assigned marker and imported them into Geneious. After assembling them using muscle and editing the sequences to line up, I identified an polymorphisms present. The columns that contained polymorphisms were 4-9, 10, 16, 21, 25, 27, 52, 66, 79, 82, 132, 181, 256, and 276. Using the polymorphisms and general scanning of different colored peaks, I identified any heterozygotes present. The columns I determined to have heterozygotes were 132, 108, 97, and 27. Two of these heterozygote columns were also polymorphisms (132 and 27). I recorded an polymorphisms with the IUPAC ambiguity codes.

After editing and recording my sequences, I continued on with the assembly of EPIC marker alignments. I individually assembled the forward and reverse reads and then built an alignment for each marker. After assembling, I created an alignment of all the assemblies, including my out group (which only had one sequence-not a forward and reverse). I renamed the consensus sequences to ensure the proper run of the Mrbayes tree.

The Bayesian Tree strongly indicated clades that were extremely closely related which may indicate a geographic relationship between these species.