EAGER-Collaborative Research: Developing Genomic Tools for Integrative Biology Research

PI和合作者将利用高通量（下一代）测序技术来阐明多种不同种类的无脊椎动物的眼睛和视力的遗传成分。选择被研究的动物是因为它们的视力和/或眼睛在功能上得到了充分的研究，但缺乏广泛的基因数据。利用新的测序技术将能够快速收集大量的遗传数据，这些数据将补充现有的视觉功能知识（特别是生理学，发育和进化），并将促进对多物种从基因型到表型到进化的动物视觉的综合理解。新的遗传数据将在公共数据库（例如http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/）中提供。该项目还将产生多种更广泛的影响，包括研究生、博士后研究人员、初级和高级教师的教育和参与，包括在扩大代表性不足群体参与科学方面有良好服务记录的个人。这项研究将把美国各地的视觉研究实验室和一个国际实验室（丹麦）联合起来。眼睛是一种迷人的进化创新，因此也是科学家和达尔文进化论批评者之间争论不休的话题。该项目将提供额外的关键数据，有助于促进对眼睛进化的理解，并教育公众。

The PI and collaborators will utilize high-throughput (next-generation) sequencing technologies to elucidate the genetic components of eyes and vision in multiple, diverse species of invertebrate animals. The animals to be studied were chosen because their vision and/or eyes are well-studied functionally, but lack extensive genetic data. Leveraging new sequencing technologies will enable the rapid collection of vast genetic data that will complement existing bodies of knowledge on visual function (especially physiology, development and evolution), and will facilitate an integrative understanding of animal vision from genotype to phenotype to evolution in multiple species. The new genetic data will be made available in public databases (e.g. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ ). The project will also have multiple broader impacts, including the education and participation of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and junior and senior faculty, including individuals with a strong record of service in broadening participation of under-represented groups in science. The research will network vision research labs across the US together and with one international lab (Denmark). Eyes are a fascinating evolutionary innovation, and are, therefore, a persistent topic of debate between scientists and critics of Darwinian evolution. This project will provide additional, key data that will help to promote understanding, and educate the public about eye evolution.