DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Systematics, phylogenetics and the evolution of asexuality in the fungus-gardening ant genus Mycocepurus

真菌园艺蚂蚁属MYCOCEPURUSE的系统学、系统发育和无性进化真菌园艺蚂蚁只能通过未受精卵繁殖。严格的无性繁殖使史密斯支原体在昆虫中几乎是独一无二的。研究M.smithii有助于我们理解为什么有性行为在动物中如此普遍，以及为什么无性行为如此罕见。这项拟议的研究将在进化的背景下测试关于专职和长期无性恋的理论预测。首先，对该属的现代分类学修订将识别现有物种并描述新物种。其次，分子系统发育分析将推断从有性向无性的进化转变，并鉴定斯氏分枝杆菌的有性姐妹种。第三，将对史密斯分枝杆菌进行检测，以确定是否存在(或不存在)表明长期无性恋的遗传特征。在大多数动物中，有性繁殖的存在是进化生物学中的一个长期难题。如果无性生物能够在进化过程中坚持下去，他们可能已经进化出了一种不同的解决方案，确保了两性性行为的同样好处。拟议的研究将通过与拉丁美洲科学家的合作促进信息和技术的交流。几名本科生研究助理将接受分子遗传技术方面的培训。科学进步将在公共外展计划和科学会议上展示。此外，还将在巴西里约克拉罗的合作伙伴研究所举办一个分类学和系统学研讨会。

SYSTEMATICS, PHYLOGENETICS AND THE EVOLUTION OF ASEXUALITY INTHE FUNGUS-GARDENING ANT GENUS MYCOCEPURUSThe fungus-gardening ant Mycocepurus smithii reproduces exclusively via unfertilized eggs. Strict asexual reproduction makes M. smithii almost unique among insects. Studying M. smithii contributes to our understanding of why sexuality is so common among animals, and why asexuality is rare. The proposed research will test theoretical predictions of obligate and long-term asexuality in an evolutionary context. First, a modern taxonomic revision of the genus will identify existing species and describe new species. Second, a molecular phylogenetic analysis will infer the evolutionary transition from sexuality to asexuality and identify the sexual sister species of M. smithii. Third, M. smithii will be tested for the presence (or absence) of genetic signatures indicative of obligate, long-term asexuality. The presence of sexual reproduction among most animals is a longstanding puzzle in evolutionary biology. If asexual organisms are able to persist over evolutionary time, they may have evolved a different solution insuring the same benefits of sexuality with two sexes. The proposed research will foster the exchange of information and technology through collaboration with scientists in Latin America. Several undergraduate research assistants will be trained in molecular genetic techniques. Scientific progress will be presented in public outreach programs and scientific meetings. In addition, a taxonomy & phylogeny workshop will be held at the partner Institute in Rio Claro, Brazil.