Question: What type of microscopic organisms do you look at when research? Like aquatic organisms or land organisms that are effected by the water?

Asked by byeat16 to Jenny on 16 Mar 2013. This question was also asked by rolag1.

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  1. Photo: Jennifer L. A. ShawJennifer L. A. Shaw
    answered on 16 Mar 2013:

    At the moment for my PhD research I am looking at Bacteria and Eukaryotes. Eukaryotes is the word used to describe all animals, plants an fungus. I am only looking at things that live in water. Not on land.

    I am using my method of sequencing DNA (looking at the organisms genes) to identify what animals live in rivers and drinking water systems.
    I have three main experiments at the moment:
    a) Biodiversity surveys: so I am sequencing DNA found in rivers to figure out what animals live there such as fish species and plant species (because animals and plants shed skin cells which float off into the river and those cells contain DNA).
    b) Identifying what bacteria are present in drinking water to ensure it is safe for people to drink.
    c) What tiny organisms (both bacterial and eukaryotes) are living in rivers: by looking at what is there I can figure out if the river is healthy or not.

    🙂

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Comments

  1. Photo: byeat16byeat16
    commented on 18 Mar 2013:

    Thank you. It is amazing how you can gather so much information on safe and healthy water, just from water organisms!

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  2. Photo: JennyJenny
    commented on 18 Mar 2013:

    Thanks! 🙂 Its pretty cool I think.

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  3. Photo: byeat16byeat16
    commented on 19 Mar 2013:

    Yeah, just one more question,
    do you only focus on Australia’s coasts and rivers or do you go to. Other countries and test their water too?

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  4. Photo: JennyJenny
    commented on 19 Mar 2013:

    For this project I am purely focusing on Australian rivers because my grant money came from the Australian research council. But the trends seen here in oz will be similar elsewhere in the world just maybe with slightly different species. When I’ve finished this project though then I will be looking for a post-doctoral position at a university and that could be anywhere in the world. So who knows where I will be in three years time! I would like to do international work eventually because it means I get to travel!

    One of my friends here at Adelaide uni is going on an 8 week trip around the world next week to collect samples for her project! I must admit I am a bit jealous! lol

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