Dissertation Research: Functional Genomics of Ornament Production in a Warbler

论文研究：莺饰品生产的功能基因组学

• 批准号: 1601093
• 负责人: Linda Whittingham
• 金额: $ 1.84万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-06-01 至 2019-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1601093&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Functional; Genomics; Ornament

Ornamental traits, such as the long tails and bright colors of some birds, are thought to be honest indicators of male quality to potential mates, because only males with relatively more resources can afford to produce them. However, in some cases the energetic cost of producing an ornament does not appear to be large, and, thus, it is not clear what limits individuals from producing elaborate ornaments. In common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) males with larger black facial masks are preferred as mates by females, yet producing the color of the mask feathers is not thought to be costly. In this project, the researchers will examine the physiological processes associated with producing larger black ornaments by studying the expression of genes in developing ornamental (facial mask) and non-ornamental (back) feathers. The goal of this research is to test three hypotheses that predict which genes are of importance during the development of ornaments and, thus, determine what information these ornaments are signaling to potential mates. A deeper understanding of feather development will also be of interest to other disciplines, including those concerned with avian disease and husbandry. The researchers will share the results of this study through public presentations at local nature centers, in addition to presentations at scientific conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals. The production of elaborate ornaments selected through mate choice is likely affected by the expression of genes involved in important physiological processes. Genes that may be of particular importance during ornament development include those involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS hypothesis), immune function (Hamilton and Zuk hypothesis), and growth (e.g., insulin and insulin-like growth factor genes; insulin/IGF hypothesis). In common yellowthroats the black facial mask is thought to honestly signal male quality because mask size is positively related to immune gene (MHC class II) variation, antibody production, and resistance to oxidative stress. In this study, researchers will use RNA-sequencing to determine if genes involved in important physiological functions (e.g., OXPHOS, immune, insulin/IGF) are more highly expressed in developing feathers that form part of a sexually selected ornament (the mask) than those from other non-sexually selected parts of the plumage (the back). This research will provide the first comparison of transcriptomes of developing ornamental and non-ornamental feathers.

观赏性特征，例如某些鸟类的长尾巴和鲜艳的颜色，被认为是潜在配偶的雄性品质的诚实指标，因为只有拥有相对更多资源的雄性才能负担得起这些特征。然而，在某些情况下，生产装饰品的能源成本似乎并不大，因此，尚不清楚是什么限制了个人生产精致的装饰品。在常见的黄喉鹬（Geothlypis trichas）中，雌性更喜欢拥有较大黑色面罩的雄性作为配偶，但生产面罩羽毛颜色的成本并不高。在这个项目中，研究人员将通过研究装饰性羽毛（面罩）和非装饰性羽毛（背部）发育过程中的基因表达，来研究与产生较大黑色装饰品相关的生理过程。这项研究的目的是测试三个假设，预测哪些基因在装饰品的发育过程中很重要，从而确定这些装饰品向潜在的配偶发出哪些信息。对羽毛发育的更深入了解也将引起其他学科的兴趣，包括那些与禽类疾病和畜牧业有关的学科。除了在科学会议上的演讲和同行评审期刊上的出版物之外，研究人员还将通过在当地自然中心的公开演讲来分享这项研究的结果。通过配偶选择选择的精致装饰品的生产可能会受到参与重要生理过程的基因表达的影响。在装饰发育过程中可能特别重要的基因包括那些参与氧化磷酸化（OXPHOS假说）、免疫功能（汉密尔顿和祖克假说）和生长（例如胰岛素和胰岛素样生长因子基因；胰岛素/IGF假说）的基因。在普通黄喉鸟中，黑色面罩被认为是男性品质的真实信号，因为面罩大小与免疫基因（MHC II 类）变异、抗体产生和氧化应激抵抗力呈正相关。在这项研究中，研究人员将使用 RNA 测序来确定参与重要生理功能（例如 OXPHOS、免疫、胰岛素/IGF）的基因在形成性选择装饰部分（面具）的发育羽毛中是否比来自其他非性选择羽毛部分（背部）的羽毛表达更高。这项研究将首次比较发育中的观赏羽毛和非观赏羽毛的转录组。