DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Genetic Architecture of Covarying Traits

论文研究：共变性状的遗传结构

• 批准号: 1406805
• 负责人: Thomas Mitchell-Olds
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: Duke University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-08-01 至 2017-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1406805&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Genetic; Architecture; Covarying

The capacity of organisms to respond to selective pressures on multiple traits is determined in part by the genetic covariances between those traits. This project will map regions of the genome associated with genetic variation in glucosinolate traits in a population of Boechera stricta, a model plant for evolutionary genetics. B. stricta makes several types of glucosinolates, compounds that defend the plant against insect herbivores. By mapping the regions of the genome that control glucosinolate profile in each type of plant tissue, the investigator will determine whether the same or different loci control glucosinolates throughout the plant. Then, using population data at these genomic regions, the amount of covariation in glucosinolate traits controlled by each locus will be determined. Knowing the genetic architecture of covarying traits is essential in predicting how those traits are able to respond to selection; if one gene controls multiple traits, evolutionary constraints are likely to be stronger than if trait correlations are caused by correlated selective pressures. Genetic covariances have been important to plant breeders, as well, as they may affect the response to artificial selection. Understanding the genetic basis of glucosinolate allocation, which is agriculturally relevant and affects cancer risk in humans, will lend insight into how breeding programs may affect crop plants. This grant will also support training of a young scientist in important genomic techniques and analyses, as well as outreach efforts in traditionally underperforming schools encouraging students, particularly girls, to pursue college and a career in the STEM fields.

生物体对多种性状的选择压力的反应能力部分取决于这些性状之间的遗传协方差。该项目将绘制与进化遗传学模型植物Boechera stricta种群中硫代葡萄糖甙性状遗传变异相关的基因组区域。B。stricta产生几种芥子油苷，这些化合物可以保护植物免受食草昆虫的侵害。通过绘制控制每种植物组织中硫代葡萄糖苷分布的基因组区域，研究者将确定是否相同或不同的基因座控制整个植物中的硫代葡萄糖苷。然后，使用这些基因组区域的群体数据，将确定由每个基因座控制的硫代葡萄糖苷性状的协变量。了解共变性状的遗传结构对于预测这些性状如何对选择做出反应至关重要;如果一个基因控制多个性状，那么进化约束可能比性状相关性由相关选择压力引起的更强。遗传协方差对植物育种者也很重要，因为它们可能影响对人工选择的反应。了解硫代葡萄糖酸盐分配的遗传基础，这与农业有关，并影响人类的癌症风险，将有助于深入了解育种计划如何影响作物。这笔赠款还将支持在重要的基因组技术和分析方面培训一名年轻科学家，以及在传统上表现不佳的学校开展外联工作，鼓励学生，特别是女孩，在STEM领域攻读大学和从事职业。