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，有两种离散的形式（即，是二型的），但它们的遗传基础不是由一个简单的单一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，限制了我们从基因组信息预测性状和理解这些复杂性状进化的能力。该项目将开发和使用一个强大的模型系统，北美蟋蟀属蟋蟀，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型性状。该项目将通过提高我们预测环境中复杂特征的能力来影响社会，可能改善疾病干预措施，提高驯化和管理物种和种群的选择性育种结果，并预测物种对环境变化的反应。蟋蟀越来越多地被用作替代食物来源，该项目产生的对蟋蟀生物学和基因组的见解将成为开发这些昆虫作为可持续食物来源的宝贵资源。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，提高对野生蟋蟀和蟋蟀食物的欣赏。该项目将产生基础性和可推广的知识的机制，连接基因型到表型的二分性状与复杂的多基因结构。该项目将开发蟋蟀的基因组资源，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异如何与发育阈值相结合的机制性理解，以共同确定离散的二型表型。多个种类的田野蟋蟀是双态的替代翅膀变形，与成年人出现无论是长翅膀，飞行能力的蟋蟀延迟繁殖或短翅膀，不能飞的蟋蟀，可以立即繁殖。以往的研究表明，翅二型在田间蟋蟀是经典的替代生活史策略，是环境敏感的和塑造的多基因变异与数量遗传阈值性状模型一致。该项目整合了定量，进化和功能遗传学方法，以机械地剖析替代生活史策略的基因组，发育和生理基础。该项目的结果将为复杂的多基因二态性（如保护性、营养性和交配多态性）的基因型表型预测提供信息，此外还有影响人类疾病和驯化物种繁殖的阈值性状。拟议的系统发育框架将告知如何可能维持，获得，该项目由通过基因组学进行发现（EDGE）计划和刺激竞争研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）联合资助。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的评估被认为值得支持。影响审查标准。

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.