Identity and Characterization of Genes Fundamental in Speciation

物种形成基础基因的身份和表征

• 批准号: 0089681
• 负责人: Stephen Palumbi
• 金额: $ 8万
• 依托单位: Harvard University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-09-01 至 2003-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0089681&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Identity; Characterization; Genes; Fundamental; Speciation

Genomic technology makes it possible to understand the role of many different genes in the process of species formation. By taking advantage of genome-wide research programs on model organisms, the investigators can conduct targeted studies on additional species, thereby discovering the genetic footprints of key evolutionary processes. They will use emerging genomic data on sea urchins to elucidate patterns and processes of molecular evolution acting during rapid species formation. They will target genes involved in reproductive success by 1) sequencing cDNA libraries from testes of the tropic urchin Echinometra oblonga, and comparing to the related species Strongylocentrotus purpuratus; 2) comparing proteins from the morphologically divergent sperm of two E. oblonga sub-species: and 3) screen a genomic library from S. purpuratus to find and sequence the chromosomal region surrounding the bindin gene, known to be central to reproductive isolation.The power of genomics is the discovery of many genes. The power of the comparative method is the elucidation of gene function and evolution through well-chosen examples of divergent species. This study applies both approaches to understanding the genes involved in reproductive success in a system in which fertilization is extremely well understood. The combination of classic knowledge about sea urchin fertilization, powerful new evolutionary models, and the burgeoning of genomics will provide rapid advances in functional and evolutionary biology.

基因组技术使人们有可能了解许多不同基因在物种形成过程中的作用。通过利用模式生物的全基因组研究计划，研究人员可以对其他物种进行有针对性的研究，从而发现关键进化过程的遗传足迹。他们将使用海胆的新兴基因组数据来阐明在快速物种形成过程中起作用的分子进化模式和过程。他们将通过1）对热带海胆Echinometra oblonga睾丸的cDNA文库进行测序，并与相关物种Strongylocentrotus purpuratus进行比较; 2）比较两种E. oblonga亚种; 3）筛选S.基因组学的力量在于发现许多基因。比较方法的力量在于通过精心挑选的不同物种的例子来阐明基因的功能和进化。这项研究应用这两种方法来了解在受精非常好理解的系统中参与生殖成功的基因。海胆受精的经典知识，强大的新的进化模型和基因组学的蓬勃发展的结合将提供功能和进化生物学的快速发展。