DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Investigating the Functions and Phenotypes of Recently Originated Genes and Their Roles in Lineage-Specific Evolution

论文研究：研究最近起源的基因的功能和表型及其在谱系特异性进化中的作用

• 批准号: 1110607
• 负责人: Manyuan Long
• 金额: $ 1.11万
• 依托单位: University of Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-06-01 至 2011-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1110607&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Investigating; Functions; Phenotypes

To understand the evolutionary diversification of animals, the applicants will investigate the variation of phenotypes and their genetic basis in multiple species of fruitflies in the genus Drosophila. The connection to diverse phenotypic features has been mapped to protein-coding changes, cis-regulatory changes and lineage-specific genes. The applicants' recent discoveries showed that many young genes played essential roles in organism development. This research will (1) investigate the reproductive contribution of young genes using the evolutionary genetic analysis and gene silencing techniques, (2) detect their interactions with other genes in the genome using the gene-chip based techniques of experimental genomics, and (3) study their roles in the species divergence by comparative analysis of related species. These efforts will advance the understanding of fundamental problems of gene evolution and phenotypic evolution. These studies will bring conceptual innovations in the understanding of biological systems. The applicants will also create new data and share with the public. Furthermore, the applicants will train undergraduate students, visiting students from other schools and different disciplines, to encourage more talented undergraduates to enter graduate schools and nurture cross-disciplinary investigation. The applicants will purposely initiate more collaborate with multiple research groups in various institutions both nationally and internationally. The knowledge on gene origination is important to the understanding of human evolution. The proposed project will be of general interest to the broad audience including scientists and non-scientists and the discoveries from this project will play a role in scientific education for the general public.

为了了解动物的进化多样性，申请人将研究果蝇属多种果蝇的表型变异及其遗传基础。与不同表型特征的联系已被映射到蛋白质编码变化、顺式调控变化和谱系特异性基因。申请人最近的发现表明，许多年轻基因在生物体发育中发挥着重要作用。本研究将（1）利用进化遗传分析和基因沉默技术研究年轻基因的生殖贡献，（2）利用基于基因芯片的实验基因组学技术检测它们与基因组中其他基因的相互作用，以及（3）通过相关物种的比较分析来研究它们在物种分化中的作用。这些努力将增进对基因进化和表型进化基本问题的理解。这些研究将为理解生物系统带来概念上的创新。申请人还将创建新数据并与公众分享。 此外，申请者还将培养本科生、外校、不同学科的访问生，鼓励更多优秀本科生进入研究生院，培育跨学科研究。申请人将有目的地与国内外不同机构的多个研究小组开展更多合作。关于基因起源的知识对于理解人类进化很重要。拟议的项目将引起包括科学家和非科学家在内的广大受众的普遍兴趣，该项目的发现将在公众的科学教育中发挥作用。