DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The molecular basis of convergent innovations: co-option or independent origin of regulatory modules?

尽管在自然界中观察到的特征的多样性似乎是无限的，但它仍然只代表了可能特征的一个子集。此外，一些性状在远亲物种中反复进化。某些特征的重复起源是否反映了共同的遗传限制？控制发育的基因网络结构可能有利于某些性状的进化，而使其他性状的起源不太可能。为了确定基因网络在塑造生物多样性中的作用，本研究将确定并比较导致两个远亲物种相似特征独立起源的分子机制。这项研究为基因型到表型的转化提供了重要的见解。pi向来自代表性不足群体的高中生和本科生提供分子技术方面的新指导。这项拟议的研究调查了远亲果蝇物种，它们独立地获得了类似的雄性特异性形态结构。先前的研究表明，双性基因（dsx）在这两个群体中这些特征的形成中起着重要作用，并且dsx DNA序列的特定变化与这些结构之一的起源有关。这项研究将测试相同或不同DNA序列的进化变化是否与另一组趋同结构的起源有关。回答这个问题将有助于确定包含dsx的遗传网络在这两组物种中相似特征的独立起源中的作用。

Although the diversity of traits observed in nature can seem infinite, it still represents only a subset of possible traits. Furthermore, some traits have evolved repeatedly in distantly related species. Does repeated origin of certain traits reflect shared genetic constraints? The structure of gene networks that control development could favor the evolution of some traits while making the origin of other traits less likely. In order to determine the role of gene networks in shaping biological diversity, this study will identify and compare the molecular mechanisms that led to the independent origin of similar traits in two distantly related species. This research provides important insights into the translation of genotype to phenotype. The PIs propose novel mentoring in molecular techniques to high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups. The proposed study investigates distantly related groups of fruit fly species, which have independently gained similar male-specific morphological structures. Previous work has shown that the gene doublesex (dsx) is important in the formation of these traits in both groups, and that specific changes in the DNA sequence of dsx correlate with the origin of one of these structures. This research will test whether evolutionary changes in the same or different DNA sequences are associated with the origin of the convergent structure in the other group. Answering this question will help determine the role of the genetic network encompassing dsx in the independent origin of similar traits in these two groups of species.