The genetic and developmental basis of hybrid male sterility during the early stages of speciation in house mice

家鼠物种形成早期杂种雄性不育的遗传和发育基础

• 批准号: 1146470
• 负责人: Jeffrey Good
• 金额: $ 60万
• 依托单位: University of Montana
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-03-01 至 2015-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1146470&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: genetic; developmental; basis; hybrid; male

Understanding the processes that lead to the formation of new species is important for understanding the origin of biological diversity. Sterility of hybrid males is one of the most common causes of reproductive isolation between animal species, yet it is unclear if the disruption of sperm development often has a common basis. The proposed research will use several genetic experiments in mice to bridge significant gaps in our understanding of the developmental causes of hybrid male sterility. Genomic experiments will be used to study gene regulation across sperm development in two species of mice and in sterile hybrid males. Comparisons between sterile and fertile males will be used to identify differences in gene regulation that contribute to infertility. These studies will be complemented with genetic mapping experiments focused on identifying specific genes that underlie hybrid male sterility. This research will advance understanding of the causes of reproductive isolation between species and provide much needed insight into the underpinnings of male sterility. This research will also advance the study of reproductive diseases by providing insights into the developmental basis of male infertility. The proposed activities will provide training and support for postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate researchers and incorporate several outreach activities aimed at high school and undergraduate students with little or no previous exposure to research-based science. These efforts will advance public understanding of biology and increase diversity in science through the inclusion of students from underrepresented groups.

了解导致新物种形成的过程对于了解生物多样性的起源很重要。杂交雄性不育是动物物种间生殖隔离的最常见原因之一，但目前尚不清楚精子发育中断是否经常有共同的基础。这项拟议的研究将使用几项对小鼠的遗传实验，以弥合我们对杂交雄性不育的发育原因的理解方面的重大差距。基因组实验将用于研究两种小鼠和不育杂交雄性小鼠精子发育的基因调控。不育男性和可生育男性之间的比较将被用来确定导致不育的基因调控的差异。这些研究将与基因图谱实验相辅相成，重点是识别导致杂交雄性不育的特定基因。这项研究将促进对物种间生殖隔离的原因的理解，并为男性不育的基础提供亟需的洞察。这项研究还将通过深入了解男性不育的发育基础来推进生殖疾病的研究。拟议的活动将为博士后、研究生和本科生研究人员提供培训和支持，并包括几项针对高中和本科生的外展活动，这些学生以前很少或根本没有接触过基于研究的科学。这些努力将促进公众对生物学的理解，并通过吸收来自代表性不足群体的学生来增加科学的多样性。