BioPowerhouses

Our Research

Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of eukaryotic cells, supplying most cellular energy while also serving as remnants of ancient bacteria with their own genomes. This stream explores mitochondria and related organelles (like chloroplasts) through two complementary approaches: wet-lab experimental methods and bioinformatics analysis. The wet-lab work investigates mitochondrial function under various environmental stresses and in various organisms, measuring phenotypes such as respiration rates, ATP production, and mitochondrial morphology, including traits relevant to human disease and evolutionary adaptation. The bioinformatics approach leverages thousands of publicly available mitochondrial genomes to study evolutionary patterns, species relationships, and coevolution with nuclear genomes. Together, these strategies provide powerful, tractable models to address big questions in biology, from cellular energy to evolution.

Our Strategy

Students will gain hands-on experience with related laboratory techniques including measuring cellular respiration, isolating mitochondria, and assessing mitochondrial morphology. They will also learn fundamental bioinformatics skills to analyze mitochondrial genome evolution using freely available software. 

Student Researchers in Biopowerhouses will: 

• Perform hands-on wet-lab experiments assessing mitochondrial function under environmental or genetic variation
• Collect measurements of respiration rates, ATP production, and mtDNA copy number
• Use bioinformatic techniques to analyze mitochondrial genome evolution and coevolution with nuclear DNA
• Collaborate on research projects addressing questions like mitochondrial adaptation to environmental stressors
• Master data analysis, troubleshooting, and scientific communication skills

Our Impact

Variations in environmental factors like temperature and salinity influence mitochondrial function, affecting organismal physiology and adaptation across diverse taxa. Evolutionary analyses of mitochondrial genomes reveal how selective pressures shape their diversity and contribute to species differences. Studying the coevolution of mitochondrial and nuclear genes provides insights into essential genetic interactions that maintain cellular function and organismal fitness. Together, these investigations enhance understanding of biological adaptation, evolutionary dynamics, and mitochondrial roles in health and environmental response.