DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Antagonistic selection and speciation in the platyfish

本研究探讨了南方Platyfish， Xiphophorus maculatus中一种强效致癌基因和假定的物种形成基因的进化力量。X. maculatus中的Xmrk基因导致X. maculatus与一个密切相关的物种xiphohorus heleri杂交形成侵袭性黑色素瘤。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的进化力的强度和类型。具体而言，本研究将确定是否存在由Xmrk引起的黄斑天牛与黑唇天牛生殖隔离的遗传证据，以及Xmrk作用下的选择强度。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中生殖隔离分子基础的急需数据。为该项目开发的分子、数学和计算技术将推进这些领域未来研究的能力。这项研究是德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校和墨西哥拉巴斯的研究中心Biológicas del Noroeste的科学家们共同努力的结果。国际合作是现代研究的一个重要组成部分，在墨西哥和美国的大学之间建立牢固的联系大大促进了两国的科学发展。

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.