Chromosomal inversions and the persistence of species

如果不同物种的个体相互交配，杂交物种可能会变得更加相似，最终崩溃为一个物种。然而，染色体重排可以让杂交物种持续存在，因为大片基因组不会重组。之前资助的工作检查了两种果蝇的杂交过程。导致共存物种之间差异的基因包含在染色体重排中，而导致不同地理位置的物种之间差异的基因则分布在整个基因组中，从而证明了染色体重排在预防杂交中的重要性。该项目的工作将通过检查这些染色体重排的遗传结构的精细细节来微调早期的工作。将对基因组中与染色体重排断点的距离不同的点是否以及有多少遗传物质在这些物种之间传递进行估计。因此，这项工作将阐明染色体重排在维持被归类为物种的独特实体方面的有效性。随着世界各地物种因人类活动而继续丧失，这项工作在识别产生和维持地球上生物多样性的过程中将变得越来越重要。拟议的工作将涉及对本科生和研究生的培训，特别是那些来自代表性不足群体的学生，并将促进经验实验室与其他主要专注于理论的实验室的持续合作。

If individuals of different species mate with each other, the hybridizing species can become more similar and eventually collapse into one species. However, chromosomal rearrangements can allow hybridizing species to persist because large blocks of the genome do not recombine. Previously funded work examined the hybridization process in two Drosophila species. Genes conferring differences between coexisting species were contained within chromosomal rearrangements while genes conferring differences between geographically separated species mapped throughout the genome, thus demonstrating the important of chromosomal rearrangements in prevening hybridization. The work in this project will fine-tune the earlier work by examining the fine details of the genetic architecture of these chromosomal rearrangements. Estimates will be made of whether and how much genetic material passes between these species at points in the genome varying in distance from chromosomal rearrangement breakpoints. This work will thus elucidate of the efficacy of chromosomal rearrangements in maintaining the distinct entities classified as species.With the continued loss of species worldwide from human activities, this work will become increasingly important in identifying the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity on the planet. The work proposed will involve training of undergraduate and graduate students, specifically those from underrepresented groups, and will foster continued collaborations of an empirical lab with others focusing primarily on theory.