Collaborative Research: The Genetics of Convergence at Multiple Levels: Evolution of Colorful Dewlaps in Anolis

远亲物种相似形式的趋同进化是生物体进化的共同特征，也是自然选择最明显的特征之一。加勒比海的Anolis蜥蜴提供了一个教科书般的例子，在形态、生态和行为上相似的物种独立出现在每个大安的列斯群岛相似的栖息地。本项目利用Anolis蜥蜴色彩的多样性和重复进化来研究趋同进化的遗传基础。使用RNA测序和详细的表型特征，这项研究将识别与彩色色素沉着相关的基因，并确定趋同是否是相同基因和发育途径变化的结果。阐明趋同进化的遗传学将丰富我们对进化过程的理解，深入了解彩色色素沉积的遗传学将对脊椎动物生物学的研究产生深远的影响。由于Anolis露水颜色的多样性如此显著，该项目呈现了一个视觉上吸引人的进化范例，对教育界和普通社区产生了更广泛的影响。主要研究人员将在哈佛自然历史博物馆设计一个公开展览，以突出收敛进化和着色的遗传基础，阐明研究过程，并教授关于适应性辐射和进化的基本课程。展览将向其他博物馆开放。此外，本项目的本科生将完成本研究中每个物种的生命百科全书中的物种页面。这些网页很容易访问，并将包含数据摘要、照片和视频。它们将成为学生、教育工作者和媒体的有用资源。

Convergent evolution of similar form by distantly related species is a common feature of organismal evolution and among the most tangible signatures of natural selection. Anolis lizards in the Caribbean provide a textbook example, with species similar in morphology, ecology and behavior arising independently in similar habitats on each of the Greater Antillean islands. This project exploits the diversity and repeated evolution of coloration in Anolis lizards to study the genetic basis of convergent evolution. Using RNA-sequencing and detailed phenotypic characterization, this study will identify genes associated with colorful pigmentation and determine if convergence results from changes in the same genes and developmental pathways. Illuminating the genetics of convergent evolution will enrich our understanding of the evolutionary process, and insight into the genetics of colorful pigmentation will have far-reaching impact on the study of vertebrate biology.Because the diversity in Anolis dewlap color is so striking, this project presents a visually appealing example of evolution with broader impact on the educational and general community. The principal investigators will design a public exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History to highlight the genetic basis of convergent evolution and coloration, illuminate the research process, and teach basic lessons about adaptive radiation and evolution. The exhibit will be made available to other museums. Also, undergraduates in this project will complete species pages for the Encyclopedia of Life for each species in this study. These web pages are easily accessible and will contain data summaries, photographs and videos. They will serve as useful resource for students, educators and the media.