DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Antagonistic selection and speciation in the platyfish

这项研究调查了南方扁平鱼中一个潜在的致癌基因和可能的物种形成基因的进化力。X.maculatus中的Xmrk基因导致了X.maculatus与近缘物种剑尾鱼杂交后侵袭性黑色素瘤的形成。因此，这已经成为皮肤癌和物种形成研究的经典系统。然而，人们对Xmrk的进化遗传学知之甚少。这项研究将使用复杂的分子技术和数学模型来估计作用于Xmrk的进化力量的强度和类型。具体地说，这项研究将确定是否存在Xmrk引起的斑点X.maculatus和X.helleri之间生殖隔离的遗传证据，以及在Xmrk上进行选择的强度。这项研究将促进我们对作用于癌症基因的进化力量的理解。它还将提供关于自然种群生殖隔离的分子基础的迫切需要的数据。为该项目开发的分子、数学和计算技术将促进未来在这些领域的研究能力。这项研究是德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校和墨西哥拉巴斯诺罗雅斯特生物调查中心的科学家们共同努力的结果。国际合作是现代研究的重要组成部分，在墨西哥和美国的大学之间建立牢固的联系极大地促进了两国的科学研究。

This study investigates the evolutionary forces acting on a potent oncogene and putative speciation gene in the Southern Platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus. The Xmrk gene in X. maculatus causes the formation of aggressive melanomas in hybrids between X. maculatus and a closely related species, Xiphophorus helleri. As a result, this has been a classic system for both skin cancer and speciation research. However, relatively little is known about the evolutionary genetics of Xmrk. This research will use sophisticated molecular techniques and mathematical models to estimate the strengths and types of evolutionary forces acting on Xmrk. Specifically, this research will determine whether genetic evidence exists for reproductive isolation between X. maculatus and X. helleri caused by Xmrk and the strength of selection operating on Xmrk. This study will advance our understanding of the evolutionary forces acting on cancer genes. It will also provide much needed data on the molecular basis of reproductive isolation in natural populations. The molecular, mathematical, and computational techniques developed for this project will advance the capabilities of future research in these areas. This research is a collaborative effort between scientists at the University of Texas at Austin and at Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste in La Paz Mexico. International collaboration is a critical component of modern research and developing strong bonds between universities in Mexico and the United States greatly advances the science in both countries.