CRUI: Biomimetic Evolutionary Analysis: the Origin of Vertebrae via Computational and Robotic Simulations of Fish

CRUI：仿生进化分析：通过鱼类的计算和机器人模拟来了解椎骨的起源

• 批准号: 0442269
• 负责人: John Long
• 金额: $ 73.83万
• 依托单位: Vassar College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-02-01 至 2011-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0442269&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CRUI; Biomimetic; Evolutionary; Analysis; Origin

In spite of their name, the first vertebrates evolved without vertebrae, which are the bones in the backs of most living species. Vertebrae have evolved independently at least five different times, in five different groups of ancient fishes, from a non-bony skeleton. Biologists have sought for years to understand these critical events in vertebrate evolution. The trouble with reconstructing the evolution of vertebrae is that since events occurred nearly 400 million years ago scientists are unable to directly observe and test natural selection in action. To understand how selection may have operated, the investigators plan to build, swim, compete, and reproduce artificial fish. In the computerized and robotic fish, investigators predict that vertebrae will evolve repeatedly in response to selection for increased swimming speed, acceleration, and maneuverability. To add other realistic effects, successful individuals from one population (computerized or robotic) will be transferred to the other, a process of immigration thought to be a key factor driving large-scale evolutionary change in real biological systems. If the evolution of these artificial fish does not produce vertebrae, it is unlikely that the vertebrae of real fish evolved in response to selection for enhanced swimming performance and navigation. Thus, the investigators plan to use artificial vertebrates, constructed to mimic real vertebrates, and to examine the feasibility of different evolutionary scenarios. Throughout the four years of this program, the project offers 28 undergraduates a two-year combined apprenticeship-mentorship experience in research. Beginning with a summer research apprenticeship, cohorts of students work as teams, under the mentorship of a returning student and one of the principal investigators, to master technique, conduct and analyze experiments, and interpret and present results. By their second year in the program, each student has developed into an independent investigator, conducting a project of their own design for a senior research thesis and returning as a peer mentor for incoming research apprentices. The project places particular emphasis on involving students from underrepresented groups, having students present their results at professional scientific meetings and in peer-reviewed scientific papers, and providing support for students to continue in research science at the graduate school level. Additional information about this research and training program may be found at:http://faculty.vassar.edu/jolong/vertebrae.html.

尽管它们的名字，第一个脊椎动物进化没有椎骨，这是大多数现存物种背部的骨头。 脊椎骨至少在五个不同的时期，在五个不同的古代鱼类群体中，从一个非骨骨架独立进化而来。 多年来，生物学家一直试图了解脊椎动物进化中的这些关键事件。重建椎骨进化的困难在于，由于事件发生在近4亿年前，科学家无法直接观察和测试自然选择的作用。 为了了解自然选择是如何运作的，研究人员计划建造、游泳、竞争和繁殖人工鱼。 在计算机化和机器鱼中，研究人员预测椎骨将反复进化，以响应增加游泳速度，加速度和机动性的选择。 为了增加其他现实效果，来自一个种群（计算机化或机器人）的成功个体将被转移到另一个种群，这一移民过程被认为是推动真实的生物系统大规模进化变化的关键因素。 如果这些人造鱼的进化没有产生椎骨，那么真实的鱼的椎骨就不太可能是为了增强游泳能力和导航能力而进化的。 因此，研究人员计划使用人造脊椎动物，模仿真实的脊椎动物，并检查不同进化方案的可行性。 在这个项目的四年中，该项目为28名本科生提供了为期两年的研究学徒-导师制经验。 从夏季研究学徒开始，学生群体作为团队工作，在返回的学生和主要研究者之一的指导下，掌握技术，进行和分析实验，并解释和呈现结果。 到了第二年的计划，每个学生都已经发展成为一个独立的调查员，进行自己设计的高级研究论文的项目，并返回作为即将到来的研究学徒同行导师。 该项目特别强调让代表性不足群体的学生参与，让学生在专业科学会议上和同行审查的科学论文中介绍他们的成果，并为学生在研究生院一级继续从事科学研究提供支持。关于这项研究和培训计划的更多信息可以在以下网站找到：http://faculty.vassar.edu/jolong/vertebrae.html。