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，都有两种不同的形式(即，是二态的)，但它们的遗传基础并不是由简单的孟德尔遗传因素引起的。遗传学的作用以及从持续的遗传和环境输入中产生离散形式的过程还没有被很好地理解，限制了我们从基因组信息预测特征和理解这些复杂特征的进化的能力。该项目将开发和使用一个强大的模式系统，北美田野蟋蟀属，以发现将遗传变异和环境输入转化为二态特征的遗传、发育、生理和环境过程。该项目将通过提高我们在不同环境中预测复杂特征的能力、潜在地改进疾病干预、改善驯化和管理的物种和种群的选择性繁殖的结果以及预测物种对环境变化的反应来影响社会。蟋蟀越来越多地被用作替代食物来源，该项目对蟋蟀生物学和基因组的洞察将是那些将这些昆虫作为可持续食物来源开发的宝贵资源。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，这项研究将用于产生博物馆活动，使城市和农村社区参与进来，以提高科学素养，提高对野生蟋蟀和作为食物的欣赏。该项目将产生关于具有复杂多基因结构的二分性性状的基因型与表型之间联系的机制的基础性和概括性知识。该项目将开发Gryllus田间蟋蟀的基因组资源，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械理解，以共同确定离散的二态表型。许多种类的野外蟋蟀对于另一种翅膀形态是二态的，成年蟋蟀要么是长翅的、能飞行的蟋蟀，繁殖延迟了，要么是短翅的、不会飞的蟋蟀，可以立即繁殖。先前的研究表明，田野蟋蟀的翅膀二型是经典的替代生活史策略，对环境敏感，并由多基因变异决定，符合数量遗传阈值性状模型。该项目集成了定量、进化和功能遗传学方法，机械地剖析了基因组、发育和生理基础，以供选择生活史策略。除了影响人类疾病和驯化物种繁育的阈值性状外，该项目的结果还将为根据复杂的多基因二态(如保护性、营养性和交配性多态)从基因型预测表型提供信息。拟议的系统发育框架将告知如何在物种辐射期间维持、获得或失去二相性生活史策略。该项目由通过基因组学实现发现(EDGE)计划和既定的刺激竞争研究计划(EPSCoR)共同资助。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.