Collaborative Research: EDGE CMT: Mechanistic basis of cricket wing dimorphism: predicting phenotype from genotype in complex threshold traits

许多特征，包括人类的疾病状态，以两种离散的形式出现（即二态），但它们的遗传基础不是由一个简单的孟德尔遗传因素引起的。遗传学的作用以及从连续的遗传和环境输入中产生离散形式的过程还没有得到很好的理解，这限制了我们从基因组信息中预测性状和理解这些复杂性状的进化的能力。该项目将开发和使用一个强大的模型系统，北美蟋蟀属，以发现遗传，发育，生理和环境过程，将遗传变异和环境输入转化为二态性状。该项目将通过提高我们预测不同环境下复杂性状的能力、潜在地改善疾病干预、提高驯化和管理物种和种群的选择性育种结果以及预测物种对环境变化的反应，对社会产生影响。蟋蟀被越来越多地用作替代食物来源，该项目对蟋蟀生物学和基因组的深入了解将为那些将这些昆虫开发为可持续食物来源的人提供宝贵的资源。该项目将在扩大STEM劳动力参与的项目中培训早期职业科学家。最后，这项研究将用于开展博物馆活动，与城市和农村社区合作，提高科学素养，并欣赏野生蟋蟀和作为食物的蟋蟀。该项目将为具有复杂多基因结构的二分性状的基因型与表型之间的联系机制提供基础和可推广的知识。该项目将开发Gryllus蟋蟀的基因组资源，并在系统发育框架中使用这些工具，以产生对多基因和环境变化如何与发育阈值相结合的机制理解，从而共同确定离散的二态表型。许多种类的蟋蟀都是二态的，因为它们的翅膀形态不同，成年蟋蟀要么长翅膀，能飞，但繁殖迟缓，要么短翅膀，不能飞，但能立即繁殖。以往的研究表明，蟋蟀的翅膀二态是典型的生活史策略，具有环境敏感性和多基因变异特征，符合定量遗传阈值性状模型。该项目整合了定量、进化和功能遗传学方法，以机械地解剖基因组、发育和生理基础，以替代生活史策略。该项目的结果将为复杂的多基因二态性的表型预测提供信息，如保护性、营养性和交配多态性，以及影响人类疾病和驯化物种育种的阈值性状。提出的系统发育框架将告知在物种辐射过程中二态生活史策略是如何维持、获得或丢失的。该项目由“通过基因组学实现发现”（EDGE）计划和“促进竞争性研究的既定计划”（EPSCoR）共同资助。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。

Many traits, including disease states in humans, come in two discrete forms (i.e., are dimorphic), yet their genetic basis is not caused by a simple single Mendelian genetic factor. The role of genetics and the processes that generate discrete forms from continuous genetic and environmental inputs are not well understood, limiting our ability to predict traits from genomic information and to understand the evolution of these complex traits. The project will develop and use a powerful model system, North American field crickets in the genus Gryllus, to discover the genetic, developmental, physiological, and environmental processes that convert genetic variation and environmental inputs into a dimorphic trait. The project will impact society through improving our ability to predict complex traits across environments, potentially improving disease interventions, enhancing outcomes for selective breeding of domesticated and managed species and populations, and predicting species’ responses to environmental change. Crickets are increasingly used as an alternative food source, and the insights into cricket biology and genomes generated by this project will be a valuable resource for those developing these insects as a sustainable food source. The project will train early career scientists in programs that are broadening participation in the STEM workforce. Finally, the research will be used to generate museum activities that will engage with urban and rural communities to improve science literacy and the appreciation of crickets in the wild and as food. The project will generate foundational and generalizable knowledge on the mechanisms that connect genotype-to-phenotype for dichotomous traits with complex multigenic architecture. The project will develop genomic resources for Gryllus field crickets and use these tools in a phylogenetic framework to generate a mechanistic understanding of how multigenic and environmental variation combines with developmental thresholds to jointly determine discrete dimorphic phenotypes. Multiple species of field cricket are dimorphic for alternative wing morphs, with adults emerging as either long-winged, flight-capable crickets with delayed reproduction or as short-winged, flightless crickets that can reproduce immediately. Previous studies indicate wing dimorphisms in field crickets are classic alternative life-history strategies that are environmentally sensitive and shaped by multigenic variation consistent with the quantitative genetic threshold trait model. The project integrates quantitative, evolutionary, and functional genetic approaches to mechanistically dissect the genomic, developmental, and physiological basis for alternative life-history strategies. The project results will inform prediction of phenotype from genotype generally for complex multigenic dimorphisms, such as protective, trophic, and mating polymorphisms, in addition to threshold traits that impact human disease and breeding of domesticated species. The proposed phylogenetic framework will inform how dimorphic life-history strategies may be maintained, gained, or lost during species radiations.This project is jointly funded by the Enabling Discovery through GEnomics (EDGE) program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).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.