EAPSI: Genomic Insights to Diversification and Speciation Using Hybrid Zones of Widespread Australian Geckos (Heteronotia Binoei)

杂交区是两个不同物种分布重叠的区域，允许物种在接触区域交换基因。杂交带的宽度可以为物种形成过程提供重要的见解，特别是物种在面对持续的基因流动时如何保持独特。这项工作将利用下一代测序的力量来量化基因流动和数千个基因在广泛分布的Bynoe？壁虎（Heteronotia binoei）。该研究将与澳大利亚堪培拉澳大利亚国立大学的世界著名进化生物学专家Craig Moritz博士合作进行。澳大利亚的生物地理历史对理解干旱地区生物多样性的机制起着重要作用，该项目将有助于深入了解上新世和更新世动态气候环境下的谱系分化。物种形成是生物学的一个基本过程，理解促进和/或限制生物多样化的机制一直是进化科学的核心主题。杂交区是两个亲缘关系密切的物种交换遗传物质的区域，因此表明虽然生殖隔离对物种形成不是必要的，但重要的生物和非生物变量阻止了不同谱系的完全合并。该项目利用了下一代测序的力量，澳大利亚（Heteronotia）新兴的多样化模型系统，以及强大的国际联盟，以传授对物种形成过程的见解，这是进化生物学的主要目标。那些具有陡峭的倾斜和较小宽度的位点可能代表了对适应很重要的基因。通过结合下一代测序的外显子组数据，该项目包括了一个全基因组功能视角来理解物种形成的动态，突出了基因组学在理解自然史方面的特殊价值。美国国家科学基金会EAPSI奖支持一名美国研究生的研究，并与澳大利亚科学院合作资助。

Hybrid zones are areas where the distribution of two distinct species overlap, allowing the species to exchange genes in the area of contact. The width of hybrid zones can provide important insights into the process of speciation, and in particular how species remain distinct in the face of ongoing gene flow. The work will leverage the power of next-generation sequencing to quantify gene flow and the permeability of thousands of genes across three hybrid zones between divergent lineages in the widespread Bynoe?s gecko (Heteronotia binoei). This research will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Craig Moritz, a world renowned expert in the field of evolutionary biology, at Australia National University in Canberra, Australia. The biogeographic history of Australia plays an important role in understanding the mechanisms of biotic diversification in arid regions, and this project will contribute insights into how lineages diverge during the dynamic climatic environments of the Pliocene and Pleistocene.Speciation is a fundamental process in biology and understanding the mechanisms that promote and/or limit biotic diversification has been a core theme in evolutionary science. Hybrid zones are regions where two closely-related species exchange genetic material and thus demonstrate that while reproductive isolation is not necessary for speciation, important biotic and abiotic variables prevent the complete merging of the divergent lineages. This project leverages the power of next-generation sequencing, an emerging model system of diversification in Australia (Heteronotia), and a strong international alliance to impart insights into speciation processes, a primary goal in evolutionary biology. Those loci with steep clines and smaller widths may represent genes important to adaptation. By incorporating exome data using next-generation sequencing, this project includes a genome-wide functional perspective on understanding the dynamics of speciation, highlighting the exceptional value that genomics has on understanding natural history.This NSF EAPSI award supports the research of a U.S. graduate student and is funded in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science.