Systematic study of cryptic genetic variation in Drosophila

一些遗传差异导致了可观察性状的差异。例如，控制眼睛色素产生的基因的差异导致眼睛颜色的差异。其他遗传差异没有任何后果，因为它们不会以任何有意义的方式影响任何生物过程。第三种类型的遗传差异，称为隐性遗传变异，是这个项目的重点。一个隐性的基因变异在正常情况下是无关紧要的，但在改变的情况下，如当环境急剧变化时，会引起可观察到的差异。隐性遗传变异尚未得到很好的研究，但它在生物适应环境压力和气候变化中起着重要作用。该项目的目的是通过比以往更系统、更定量的研究方法，更好地了解隐性遗传变异。该项目将使用果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster），这种果蝇的遗传学研究已经有100多年的历史了。隐性遗传变异将在多种蝇类中揭示，相关身体部位的形状、大小和数量的诱导变异将被量化。诱导变异的潜在原因将通过使用一种强大的技术来调查，在不同的果蝇中，测量数千个基因的活动。该项目的预期结果是增加对隐性遗传变异的程度和将无关紧要的遗传变异转化为导致个体表现不同的分子过程的理解。该项目还将在几个方面为青年科学家的培训作出贡献。PI是纽约大学生物学本科研究主任，并积极参与将本科生安置在研究实验室，包括在科学领域代表性不足的群体的成员。此外，PI还参与了一个开放教育项目，他为非科学专业学生开设的关于基因组和多样性的讲座可以在网上免费获得。最后，PI将参与公共宣传工作，以突出隐遗传变异与气候变化的相关性，部分通过这些主题的在线模块。

Some genetic differences cause differences in observable traits. For example, differences in genes controlling eye-pigment production lead to differences in eye color. Other genetic differences have no consequence, because they do not affect any biological process in any meaningful way. A third type of genetic difference, called cryptic genetic variation, is the focus of this project. A cryptic genetic variant is inconsequential under normal circumstances, but causes an observable difference under altered circumstances, such as when the environment dramatically changes. Cryptic genetic variation has not been well studied, but it has been proposed to be important in the adaptation of organisms to environmental stress and climate change. The aim of this project is to gain a better understanding of cryptic genetic variation, by studying it in a more systematic, quantitative way than has been done before. The project will use the fly Drosophila melanogaster, the study of which has advanced genetics research for over 100 years. Cryptic genetic variation will be revealed in a diverse collection of flies, and the induced variation in the shapes, sizes and numbers of relevant body parts will be quantified. The underlying cause of the induced variation will be investigated by using a powerful technology to measure, in sets of different flies, the activities of thousands of genes. The expected outcome of the project is an increased understanding of both the extent of cryptic genetic variation and the molecular processes that convert inconsequential genetic variants into ones that cause individuals to appear different. The project will also contribute to the training of young scientists in several ways. The PI is Director of Undergraduate studies for Biology at New York University and is actively involved in placing undergraduate students in research laboratories, including members of groups underrepresented in science. In addition, the PI participates in an Open Education Project, and his lectures on Genomes and Diversity for non-science majors are freely available online. Finally, the PI will participate in public outreach efforts to highlight the relevance of cryptic genetic variation to climate change, in part through an online module on these topics.