DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Genome dynamics in parthenogenetic geckos of the Heteronotia binoei complex

几乎所有的动物都是有性繁殖的，但少数动物表现出无性繁殖，即母亲在没有雄性输入的情况下产生基因相同的女儿。这个项目调查了这种无性行为在贝诺氏壁虎(Heterontia Binoei)身上的后果。通过测量基因的活性和量化这些无性壁虎的突变，这个项目将提供重要的数据，将解决进化生物学中存在时间最长的问题之一：性到底为什么存在？这个项目将研究无性血统与有性亲相比在基因上恶化的预期，并检查是否有机制可以帮助防止这种恶化。对这个问题正在采取一种综合的方法，包括基因组分析、生理实验和生化分析。这个项目有助于一个综合性的、国际性的(澳大利亚-美国)努力了解比诺壁虎无性恋的起源和进化。该项目已经并将继续为两国有才华的本科生提供研究经验。它的外展部分旨在通过讲习班和与澳大利亚内陆地区的车站管理人员的讨论，在小学以及通过讲习班和与车站管理人员的讨论，教育普通公众关于生态和进化的知识。

Nearly all animals reproduce sexually, but a handful exhibit asexual reproduction in which mothers produce genetically identical daughters without input from males. This project investigates the consequences of such asexuality in the Bynoe's gecko (Heteronotia binoei). By measuring the activity of genes and quantifying mutations in these asexual geckos, this project will provide important data that will address one of the longest-standing questions in evolutionary biology: why does sex exist at all? This project will examine the expectation that asexual lineages deteriorate genetically compared to their sexual relatives, and examine whether there are mechanisms that can help prevent this deterioration. An integrative approach to this question is being taken that includes genomic analyses, physiological experiments, and biochemical assays.This project contributes to an integrative, international (Australia-United States) endeavor to understand the origin and evolution of asexuality in the Bynoe's gecko. This project has provided and will continue to offer research experiences to talented undergraduate students in both countries. Its outreach component is designed to educate the general public in ecology and evolution in the primary schools, as well as via workshops and through discussions with station managers in the Australian outback.