Maternal effects, character displacement, and the origins of diversity

母体效应、性格置换和多样性的起源

• 批准号: 0640026
• 负责人: David Pfennig
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-02-01 至 2011-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0640026&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Maternal; effects; character; displacement; origins

When organisms experience different environments, they often display different phenotypes; i.e., different morphologies or behaviors. Indeed, this tendency for organisms to vary in response to changing environments (termed phenotypic plasticity) is so ubiquitous that it can be regarded as a universal property of living things. Despite longstanding theory suggesting that phenotypic plasticity may generate novel traits in organisms, we know relatively little about phenotypic plasticity's role in promoting diversity within and between species. The proposed research will seek to fill this critical gap by examining whether and how maternally inherited plasticity promotes diversity within and between species of amphibians. These goals will be achieved using a combination of laboratory experiments and observations of natural populations. The results of this research could prove vital for understanding how living things develop, function, and evolve. Indeed, this work will help us to understand how the environment, not just genes, affects development. Such work is critical for evaluating the origin and treatment of developmental diseases. This proposal will also contribute to educational outreach by training young scientists in interdisciplinary research, and will broaden access to science by actively recruiting students from underrepresented groups. Finally, the research will be used to educate the public through a planned science outreach program for K-12 students and teachers.

当生物体经历不同的环境时，它们通常表现出不同的表型;即，不同的形态或行为。 事实上，生物体对变化的环境做出反应的这种倾向（称为表型可塑性）是如此普遍，以至于它可以被视为生物的普遍属性。 尽管长期以来的理论表明，表型可塑性可能会在生物体中产生新的性状，但我们对表型可塑性在促进物种内部和物种之间多样性方面的作用知之甚少。 拟议的研究将通过研究母系遗传的可塑性是否以及如何促进两栖动物物种内部和物种之间的多样性来填补这一关键空白。 这些目标将通过实验室实验和对自然种群的观察相结合来实现。这项研究的结果可能对理解生物如何发展，功能和进化至关重要。 事实上，这项工作将帮助我们了解环境，而不仅仅是基因，如何影响发育。 这项工作对于评估发育性疾病的起源和治疗至关重要。 这项建议还将通过培训青年科学家进行跨学科研究，促进教育推广，并将通过积极招收代表性不足群体的学生，扩大接触科学的机会。 最后，这项研究将用于教育公众通过计划的科学推广计划的K-12学生和教师。