A Test of Adaptive Divergence Across Altitudinal Gradients: Population Genomics of Deer Mice

进化生物学的主要目标之一是阐明自然选择在形成遗传变异模式中的作用。实现这一目标的一个特别有效的方法是分析自然种群中构成健康相关特征的基因的DNA序列变异。通过将这些基因的DNA变异模式与基因组中随机抽样的基因之间的变异模式进行比较，应该可以测试对单个基因作用的选择的强度和模式的预测，以及在一个地点的选择影响邻近地点的变异模式的基因组规模。本研究的目的是以鹿鼠的自然种群作为模型系统，研究选择、重组和基因流在形成构成高海拔生理适应基础的血红蛋白基因DNA序列变异模式中的联合作用。这个系统提供了一个难得的机会来研究DNA序列水平上的功能变异，这种变异可能与特定环境效应引起的选择有关。这项研究将包括博士后和研究生的培训，并将包括所有参与者在葡萄牙的国际研究经验。

One of the main goals of evolutionary biology is to elucidate the role of natural selection in shaping patterns of genetic variation. One especially powerful means of accomplishing this goal involves analyzing DNA sequence variation at genes that underlie fitness-related traits in natural populations. By comparing patterns of DNA variation at such genes with patterns of variation among a random sample of genes in a genome, it should be possible to test predictions about the strength and mode of selection acting on individual genes, and the genomic scale at which selection at one site influences patterns of variation at neighboring sites. The purpose of this study is to use natural populations of the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, as a model system to investigate the joint effects of selection, recombination, and gene flow in shaping the pattern of DNA sequence variation at hemoglobin genes that underlie physiological adaptation to high altitude. This system provides a rare opportunity to study functional variation at the DNA sequence level that can be related to selection caused by a specific environmental effect.This study will involve training for a postdoc and a graduate student and will include an international research experience in Portugal for all participants.