RIG: Evolutionary analysis of speciation in a marine species flock

物种形成过程的遗传基础是进化生物学中的一个难题。 拟议的项目将确定与繁殖隔离和表型分化有关的基因，在一个高度多样化的海洋鱼类群体，岩鱼（属）。 在色素沉着中起作用的基因将被靶向。这些基因包括配子识别和精子竞争的基因。 在其他物种中，类似的基因显示出自然选择的信号，并以快速的方式进化。 在选定的岩鱼物种的性腺和皮肤中表达的基因将被测序，以生成大型序列数据库。 这些DNA序列信息将在比较基因组框架中进行分析，以确定快速进化和选择的基因。 对更多岩鱼物种的基因进行进一步分析将阐明选择性事件的模式和时间。对鱼类生殖隔离的重要基因知之甚少，本项目将产生一套候选基因，用于研究岩鱼和其他鱼类生殖的功能方面，并为研究海洋环境中的物种形成提供框架。 资金将用于培训来自基因组学和进化分析方面代表性不足群体的本科生。

The genetic basis of the speciation process is a difficult issue in evolutionary biology. The proposed project will identify genes related to reproductive isolation and phenotypic differentiation in a highly diverse group of marine fishes, the rockfish (genus Sebastes). Genes that play a role in pigmentation will be targeted. These include genes for gamete recognition and sperm competition. In other species similar genes display signals of natural selection and evolve in a rapid manner. Genes expressed in the gonads and skin of selected rockfish species will be sequenced to generate large sequence databases. This DNA sequence information will be analyzed in a comparative genomic framework to identify genes that are rapidly evolving and subject to selection. Further analysis of genes across a larger set of rockfish species will elucidate the mode and timing of selective events.Little is known about genes that are important in reproductive isolation in fishes, and this project will generate a suite of candidate genes to study the functional aspects of reproduction in rockfish and other fishes, as well as provide a framework to study speciation in the marine environment. Funding will be used to train undergraduate students from underrepresented groups in genomics and evolutionary analysis.