Dissertation Research: Molecular Basis of Cryptic Genetic Variation in Evolved Lines of Caenorhabditis remanei

生物体如何在新奇的压力环境中生存和适应？在正常环境中没有暴露的遗传变异(称为隐蔽遗传变异)可能通过在新环境中的表型可塑性而暴露出来。在我们对隐蔽遗传变异的理解中，一个关键的差距是识别其分子基础和进化。当暴露在实验室生态相关的应激环境中时，雷曼线虫对选择的反应迅速进化，种群对替代环境的反应也会改变。PI将使用下一代测序技术来识别在这些进化的品系中发生的关键遗传和转录变化，从而能够识别在新环境中暴露出神秘变异的基因和发育路径。目前，人们对新环境暴露出的这种神秘遗传变异如何影响自然种群的进化知之甚少。随着全球气候变化迅速改变栖息地并创造新的环境，许多经济和保护关注的物种面临着新的环境挑战。因此，了解环境因素如何与种群中的基因相互作用以指导进化变化变得越来越重要。这项研究加深了我们对这一过程的理解。

How do organisms survive in and adapt to novel, stressful conditions? Genetic variation that is not exposed in a normal environment (called cryptic genetic variation) may nevertheless be exposed through phenotypic plasticity in novel environments. A key gap in our understanding of cryptic genetic variation is the identification of its molecular basis and evolution. When exposed to ecologically relevant stressful environments in the lab, the nematode Caenorhabditis remanei evolves rapidly in response to selection, and populations alter their response to alternative environments. The PIs will use next-generation sequencing technology to identify the key genetic and transcriptional changes that have occurred in these evolved lines, enabling the identification of genes and developmental pathways that expose cryptic variation in new environments.Currently little is known about how the exposure of this cryptic genetic variation by a new environment can impact evolution in natural populations. As global climate change rapidly alters habitats and creates novel environments, many species of economic and conservation concern are faced with new environmental challenges. Thus it is becoming increasingly important to understand how environmental factors interact with genes in populations to direct evolutionary change. This research improves our understanding of this process.