Dissertation Research: Understanding introgression dynamics through a comparative and genome-wide analysis of a tropical suture zone

论文研究：通过热带缝合带的比较和全基因组分析来了解基因渗入动态

• 批准号: 1110787
• 负责人: Craig Moritz
• 金额: $ 1.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 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 2013-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1110787&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Understanding; introgression; dynamics

Understanding how speciation happens is a long-standing and exciting challenge in biology. Zones of secondary contact, or areas where previously-isolated lineages meet and interact, are one way to test hypotheses and theories about speciation. This study investigates a unique system in the Australian rainforest, in which there are over twenty overlapping zones of secondary contact. This study considers four such contacts within a closely-related group of lizards to investigate patterns of introgression, or gene exchange, across the zone. In particular, this study examines how evolutionary forces, such as demographic processes and selection, influence introgression, and more generally, the evolution of barriers between species. To test these predictions, high-throughput sequencing will be used to develop genomic resources, and fine-scale sampling and genotyping of populations in the contact zone will be used to measure rates of introgression.This research will serve as an excellent vehicle to engage with students and to conduct outreach activities. Undergraduate students in both the United States and Australia will develop their own independent laboratory and field projects related to this project. Additionally, this research will be shared with underserved middle school and community college students through outreach programs. Finally, this research will generate new genomic and bioinformatic tools for use by the greater research community.

了解物种形成是如何发生的是生物学中一个长期存在的令人兴奋的挑战。二次接触的区域，或以前孤立的谱系相遇和相互作用的区域，是检验物种形成假说和理论的一种方法。本研究调查了澳大利亚雨林中一个独特的系统，其中有超过20个重叠的次级接触区。这项研究认为，四个这样的接触密切相关的蜥蜴组调查模式的渗入，或基因交换，整个区域。特别是，这项研究探讨了进化的力量，如人口过程和选择，影响基因渗入，更普遍的是，物种之间的障碍的演变。为了验证这些预测，高通量测序将被用于开发基因组资源，并在接触区的人口的精细规模采样和基因分型将被用于测量渗入率。这项研究将作为一个很好的工具，与学生互动，并进行推广活动。美国和澳大利亚的本科生将开发自己的独立实验室和与该项目相关的实地项目。 此外，这项研究将通过外展计划与服务不足的中学和社区大学的学生分享。最后，这项研究将产生新的基因组和生物信息学工具，供更大的研究界使用。