The Influence of Effective Population Size on the Strength of Selection Imposed by Mate Choice

有效种群规模对择偶选择强度的影响

• 批准号: 1146525
• 负责人: Matthew Dean
• 金额: $ 32.5万
• 依托单位: University of Southern California
• 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: 2012-04-01 至 2016-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1146525&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Influence; Effective; Population; Size; Strength

One of the most intriguing discoveries of the past 20 years of evolutionary genetics is the rapid evolution of some reproductive genes. That genes with such critical roles should functionally diverge over time seems paradoxical. Selection imposed by mate choice may drive some of this functional divergence as individuals continually grapple for reproductive success. This research project focuses on ~10 mouse species that differ in mating system and population size, offering a unique opportunity to predict and test the strength and direction of reproductive selection. The evolution of ~1000 reproductive genes gathered from ~150 individuals across these species will be studied via high throughput sequencing and rigorous computational approaches. This work will significantly advance our understanding of the forces that moderate genetic variation within and between species. To broaden the impacts of our research, we have engaged students of West Adams, a downtown Los Angeles high school with a typical inner city story. Nearly 30% of students drop out before graduating and more than 50% failed first year biology. However, the teachers are eager to bring alternative strategies into the classroom. Several of their students have already taken "ownership" in specific aspects of this research project and will be co-authors on resulting publications. Immersing high school in all aspects of our research will demystify the scientific process and expose them to new ideas about potential career paths.

在过去20年的进化遗传学中，最有趣的发现之一是一些生殖基因的快速进化。 具有如此关键作用的基因应该随着时间的推移而在功能上发生分化，这似乎是自相矛盾的。由于个体不断地为繁殖成功而奋斗，择偶所带来的选择可能会导致这种功能上的差异。 该研究项目的重点是约10种在交配系统和种群规模上不同的小鼠，为预测和测试生殖选择的强度和方向提供了独特的机会。 从这些物种的约150个个体中收集的约1000个生殖基因的进化将通过高通量测序和严格的计算方法进行研究。 这项工作将大大促进我们对物种内和物种间调节遗传变异的力量的理解。 为了扩大我们研究的影响，我们邀请了西亚当斯的学生，这是一所位于洛杉矶市中心的高中，有着典型的内城故事。 近30%的学生在毕业前辍学，超过50%的学生第一年生物学不及格。然而，教师们渴望将替代策略带入课堂。 他们的几个学生已经在这个研究项目的具体方面采取了“所有权”，并将共同作者的结果出版物。 让高中生沉浸在我们研究的各个方面，将揭开科学过程的神秘面纱，并让他们接触到有关潜在职业道路的新想法。