Horizontal Gene Transfer and the Evolution of Life on Earth

水平基因转移和地球生命的进化

• 批准号: 0345185
• 负责人: James Lake
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of California-Los Angeles
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-04-01 至 2009-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0345185&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Horizontal; Gene; Transfer; Evolution; Life

The principal investigators on this project propose to analyze the genomes of the diverse life forms found on Earth and to relate their interrelationships to the geological, paleontological, climatological, chronological, and biochemical records. They will take into account the effects of horizontal gene transfer using newly developed mathematical algorithms. Horizontal gene transfer refers to the passing of genes between different organisms, much like computer programmers share programs over the internet. This exchange has had an important influence on the evolution of prokaryotic (bacterial) life. But at the same time, it greatly complicates reconstructing the tree of life. They have three related objectives. Among the objectives of the investigators will be to correlate genomic information with theories for the origins of the bacterial life on Earth. Also, methods will be developed so that one can utilize complete genome information in order to derive phylogenetic trees which can accurately resolve major events in the history of life and yet not be affected by the complexities of horizontal gene transfer. These genome comparisons, will be related to the fossil and geological records, through correlation with such factors as the time of appearance of oxygen in the atmosphere, the isotopic abundances of sulfur and carbon, and the appearance of eukaryotic and prokaryotic fossils, in order to understand past changes on the Earth and predict future changes. The proposed basic research also has broader impacts on society. For example, by clearly understanding the evolution of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and of their biochemical pathways, these studies may suggest new technologies. In particular, understanding how organisms have evolved to live in extreme environments may lead to new and more efficient industrial processes. In another sphere, the correlation of genomic data with phylogenetic, geological, climatological, and paleontological data may provide clues to the evolution of life on Earth and life's response to past environmental crises. For example, understanding the evolution of life during "Snowball Earth", may provide critical information that could have practical applications to such important problems as global warming. Additional impacts will result from teaching and training graduate and undergraduate students, and from the dissemination of scientific information to the public, especially to underrepresented groups. This lab consists of 8 scientists, five are female and three are males. The Co-PI (one of two Latinas in the lab) has lectured frequently at public forums that serve minority groups. During the past summer the lab hosted the Professor in charge of Tennessee State University minority program to learn genomics. This lab is very concerned about the broader impacts of their research.

该项目的主要研究人员建议分析地球上发现的各种生命形式的基因组，并将它们与地质、古生物学、气候学、年代学和生化记录的相互关系联系起来。他们将使用新开发的数学算法考虑水平基因转移的影响。水平基因转移指的是不同生物体之间的基因转移，就像计算机程序员在互联网上共享程序一样。这种交换对原核生物(细菌)生命的进化产生了重要影响。但与此同时，它也使重建生命之树变得非常复杂。他们有三个相关的目标。研究人员的目标之一将是将基因组信息与地球上细菌生命起源的理论联系起来。此外，还将开发方法，以便人们可以利用完整的基因组信息来得出系统发育树，这些树可以准确地解决生命历史中的重大事件，而不会受到水平基因转移的复杂性的影响。这些基因组比对，将与化石和地质记录相关，通过与大气中氧气出现的时间、硫和碳的同位素丰度以及真核和原核生物化石的出现等因素的关联，以了解地球过去的变化和预测未来的变化。拟议的基础研究也对社会产生了更广泛的影响。例如，通过清楚地了解原核细胞和真核细胞的进化及其生化途径，这些研究可能会提出新的技术。特别是，了解生物体是如何进化到在极端环境中生存的，可能会带来新的、更有效的工业过程。在另一个领域，基因组数据与系统发育、地质、气候学和古生物数据的关联可能为地球上生命的进化和生命对过去环境危机的反应提供线索。例如，了解“雪球地球”期间生命的演化，可能会提供关键信息，这些信息可能对全球变暖等重大问题具有实际应用价值。对研究生和本科生进行教学和培训，以及向公众，特别是向代表性不足的群体传播科学信息，将产生额外的影响。这个实验室由8名科学家组成，其中5名女性，3名男性。Co-Pi(实验室中的两名拉丁裔之一)经常在为少数群体服务的公共论坛上演讲。去年夏天，该实验室接待了负责田纳西州立大学少数族裔项目的教授学习基因组学。这个实验室非常关注他们研究的更广泛的影响。