Mating systems and the origins of genetic conflict

个体之间的物理和化学相互作用是正常繁殖的必要组成部分，但在许多动物中，雄性和雌性生殖目标的不同有时会导致性别之间的基因冲突。这个项目使用研究得很好的线虫模型系统的力量，线虫主要通过自我繁殖繁殖，以及它的近亲雷曼线虫，有分开的雄性和雌性，来研究生殖相互作用的遗传基础。该项目使用综合的基因组和蛋白质组学方法来确定雄性生殖特征的遗传基础和拮抗作用，在线虫和莱曼线虫的自然分离株中，以及在通过基因操作通过异交繁殖而不是自繁殖的线虫种群中。生殖是生命系统的一个决定性特征，了解生殖相互作用的遗传和功能基础可以为我们提供关于维持我们在世界上看到的巨大多样性的力量的关键见解。不孕不育每年影响600多万美国人，其中许多病例是由父母之间神秘的不相容引起的。许多基本的生物学功能在所有动物中都是保守的，因此识别这些物种中涉及生殖相互作用的基因和蛋白质可能会对包括人类在内的其他生物中的类似相互作用产生洞察。

Physical and chemical interactions between individuals are a necessary part of normal reproduction, yet in many animals, differing reproductive goals of males and females sometimes leads to a genetic conflict between the sexes. This project uses the power of the well-studied nematode model system, Caenorhabditis elegans, which reproduces primarily via self-reproduction, and its close relative C. remanei, which has separate males and females, to examine the genetic basis of reproductive interactions. This project uses comprehensive genomic and proteomic approaches to identify the genetic bases of male reproductive traits and antagonistic effects in both C. elegans and C. remanei natural isolates, as well as in C. elegans populations that have been genetically manipulated to reproduce via outcrossing instead of self-reproduction.Reproduction is a defining characteristic of living systems, and understanding the genetic and functional basis of reproductive interactions can provide key insights about the forces that maintain the tremendous diversity that we see in the world. Infertility affects more than six million Americans each year, with many of these cases being caused by mysterious incompatibilities between the perspective parents. Many basic biological functions are conserved across all animals, so identifying the genes and proteins involved in reproductive interactions in these species may yield insights into similar interactions in other organisms, including humans.