Vibrio transcriptome
We explore the genetic mechanisms underlying thermal specialization in closely-related vibrios isolated from the Beaufort Inlet in North Carolina, USA, a location known for significant seasonal temperature. Previous research suggested that mechanisms of thermal adaptation vary across different evolutionary timescales. By employing genomic and transcriptomic methods, we aim to elucidate the transcriptomic adaptations within strains grown at their thermal optima and under thermal stress. Furthermore, by comparing two closely-related strains with distinct laboratory-determined thermal preferences, we seek to identify how different thermal environments drive evolutionary responses in genome content, alleles, and gene expression patterns.