NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2021: Assessing potential parallel evolution of heterodonty via co-option of shared developmental modules

该行动资助2021财年NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金，研究基因组，环境和表型之间相互作用的生命规则的综合研究。该奖学金支持将以创新方式为《生活规则》领域作出贡献的研究员的研究和培训。平行进化是指生物体使用相同的祖先基因进化出相似的特征。对平行进化如何运作的详细研究很少，但这对理解进化重复的频率很重要。平行进化的一个可能的例子是异齿性，即沿下颌牙齿大小/形状的差异。这一特征可以在胚胎和化石中观察到，为其潜在的遗传和进化提供了信息。异齿畸形在哺乳动物中最为人所知，但在许多爬行动物中也有进化。这项研究将确定在哺乳动物和爬行动物中是否使用相同的基因产生异基因。研究员将使用微ct扫描爬行动物的颌来识别它们不同的牙齿区域，然后观察爬行动物胚胎中正常的牙齿发育，看看它是否涉及与哺乳动物相同的基因。如果是这样的话，爬行动物胚胎中的这些基因将被阻断，以评估它们形成异源性的必要性。这项研究将为研究员提供必要的培训，以建立一个结合胚胎发育和古生物学技术的研究项目。此外，该项目还将通过耶鲁皮博迪博物馆和一个将流行文化与进化论的主要概念联系起来的在线视频系列，向不同的公众成员进行宣传。哺乳动物的异齿性是通过发育中的牙上皮同源盒转录因子的区域化表达而产生的，这种表达模式在小鸡中也已知。这项研究将确定同样的表达模式是否也被用于爬行动物异源性的发展。该研究员将使用分段线性回归来识别异齿爬行动物下颚微ct扫描中牙齿区域之间的边界。然后，原位杂交将评估同源盒基因表达是否与爬行动物胚胎中鉴定的牙齿区域一致。该研究员还将使用头植入来评估同源盒基因在划定异种爬行动物toothrows区域的必要性。这个项目将训练研究员在分子发育技术上，以补充她在功能形态学和古生物学方面的经验。该研究员将利用这一广泛的专业知识向公众宣传功能形态和发展。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2021, Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes. The fellowship supports research and training of the Fellow that will contribute to the area of Rules of Life in innovative ways. Parallel evolution is when organisms evolve similar traits using the same ancestral genes. Detailed study of how parallel evolution works is rare, but it is important for understanding how often evolution repeats itself. One possible example of parallel evolution that would be particularly useful is heterodonty, a difference in tooth size/shape along the jaw. This feature can be observed in embryos and in fossils, providing information on its underlying genetics and evolution through deep time. Heterodonty is best known in mammals, but it has also evolved in many reptiles. This research will determine whether heterodonty develops using the same genes in mammals and reptiles. The Fellow will use µ-CT scans of reptile jaws to identify their distinct tooth regions and then observe normal tooth development in reptile embryos to see if it involves the same genes as in mammals. If this is the case, these genes in reptile embryos will be blocked to assess their necessity for developing heterodonty. This research will provide the Fellow with training necessary to build a research program combining techniques from embryonic development and paleontology. Additionally, this project will involve outreach to diverse members of the public through the Yale Peabody Museum and an online video series connecting pop culture with major concepts in evolution. Mammalian heterodonty is generated via regionalized expression of homeobox transcription factors in the developing dental epithelium, and this expression pattern is also known in chicks. This research will determine whether that same expression pattern was also co-opted for the development of reptilian heterodonty. The Fellow will use segmented linear regression to identify boundaries between toothrow regions in µ-CT scans of heterodont reptile jaws. Then, in situ hybridization will assess whether homeobox gene expression coincides with the identified tooth regions in reptile embryos. The Fellow will also use bead implantation to evaluate the necessity of homeobox genes in delineating regions of heterodont reptilian toothrows. This project will train the Fellow in molecular developmental techniques to complement her experience with functional morphology and paleontology. The Fellow will use this wide range of expertise to educate the public about functional morphology and development.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.