NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY2008

这项行动为2008财政年度的NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金提供资金。该奖学金支持一项名为“移动的DNA在极其多样化的哺乳动物群体中基因和基因组进化中的作用”的研究和培训计划。好家伙这项研究的主办机构是德克萨斯大学-阿灵顿分校，赞助科学家是Ellen Pritham博士和Cedric Feschotte博士。全基因组测序显示，编码必需蛋白质的“典型”基因实际上只占大多数植物和动物基因组的很小一部分。 相反，基因组的很大一部分是由转座因子（TE）组成的，这是一种独特的DNA类别，与典型的基因不同，它可以在基因组中移动。 然而，有时候，当TE移动时，它们也会意外地带来沿着相邻的基因。 当TE最终插入到一个新的位置时，这种类型的搭便车可能导致新的基因组合或重复拷贝。 Helitron是最近发现的一组TE，以其以这种方式运输相邻基因的能力而闻名。 最近，他们在小棕色蝙蝠，鼠耳蝠lucifugus中被发现，并已被证明代表了该基因组的惊人的大百分比。 这项研究正在调查Helitrons和他们的动员模式，并密切-蝙蝠的相关物种，以确定新的基因形成或复制的潜在情况下，并了解这些TE在这些物种的多样化在很长一段时间内的作用。培训目标包括发展必要的计算技能，以利用丰富的数据，现在公开的结果，最近激增，全基因组测序计划 这种培训将反过来用于指导那些也有兴趣发现更多关于移动的DNA在基因组中的作用的学生，因为它的普遍性已经得到了认可。 此外，它将进一步阐明Helitrons在哺乳动物中复制和重组基因的能力，并阐明Helitrons在极其多样化的蝙蝠谱系进化中的潜在作用。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2008. The fellowship supports a research and training plan entitled "The Role of Mobile DNA in the Evolution of Genes and Genomes in an Extremely Diverse Mammalian Group" for Sarah R. Schaack. The host institution for this research is University of Texas - Arlington and the sponsoring scientists are Dr. Ellen Pritham and Dr. Cedric Feschotte. The sequencing of whole genomes has revealed that "typical" genes coding for essential proteins actually constitute a very small fraction of the genome in most plants and animals. Instead, a significant proportion of the genome is made up of transposable elements (TEs), a unique category of DNA that, unlike typical genes, can move around the genome. Sometimes, however, when TEs move they also bring along neighboring genes accidentally. This type of hitch-hiking can result in new gene combinations or duplicate copies when the TE finally inserts into a new position. Helitrons are a recently discovered group of TEs that are known for their ability to transport neighboring genes in this way. Recently, they have been discovered in the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, and have been shown to represent a surprisingly large percent of that genome. This research is surveying Helitrons and their patterns of mobilization in this and closely-related species of bats in order to identify potential cases of novel gene formation or duplication and to understand the role of these TEs in diversification of these species over long time periods.Training goals include developing the computational skills necessary to take advantage of the wealth of data now publicly available as a result of the recent surge in whole genome sequencing projects. This training will, in turn, be used to mentor students also interested in discovering more about the role of mobile DNA in the genome now that its ubiquity is appreciated. In addition, it will further illuminate the capacity of Helitrons to copy and reshuffle genes in mammals and shed light on the potential role of Helitrons in the evolution of the extremely diverse bat lineage.