Chromosomal inversions and the persistence of species

如果不同物种的个体相互交配，杂交物种会变得更加相似，并最终瓦解为一个物种。然而，染色体重排可以使杂交物种持续存在，因为大部分基因组不会重组。先前资助的工作检查了两种果蝇的杂交过程。共存物种之间的差异基因包含在染色体重排中，而地理上分离的物种之间的差异基因则映射在整个基因组中，从而证明了染色体重排在防止杂交方面的重要性。这个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。估计这些物种之间是否以及有多少遗传物质在基因组中距离染色体重排断点不同的点上传递。因此，这项工作将阐明染色体重排在维持被分类为物种的不同实体中的功效。随着人类活动在世界范围内造成物种的持续损失，这项工作在确定产生和维持地球生物多样性的过程方面将变得越来越重要。提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，并将促进一个实证实验室与其他主要关注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.