NSFDEB-NERC: Ecological Genomics of Adaptive Polymorphism

NSFDEB-NERC：适应性多态性的生态基因组学

• 批准号: NE/P013074/2
• 负责人: Bonnie Fraser
• 金额: $ 32.01万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2018 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FP013074%2F2
• 关键词: NSFDEB; NERC; Ecological; Genomics; Adaptive

Accounting for high genetic diversity in ecologically-important traits is a fundamental problem in evolutionary biology. Individuals vary enormously at the genetic level, even within local populations, and we do not understand why. Recent work implicates an advantage to rare types as a critical factor maintaining genetic variation in many species, but we have little understanding of how this process actually unfolds in the wild. To address this gap, we need to (1) understand how ecological and social interactions promote or erode genetic diversity, and (2) link these interactions among organisms directly to the genes underlying the traits that mediate these interactions. This project will link a genetically diverse trait in the Trinidad guppy (Poecilia reticulata) to the ecological and social interactions that shape its evolution, and to the underlying genes that shape this diversity. Our previous work indicates that interactions with predators and with potential mates both favour rare colour patterns in this species. To determine which of the processes is most responsible for promoting diversity, we will collect data on predation risk and mating behaviour in multiple natural populations and relate these data to the degree of genetically-based diversity in colour patterns. Then, using populations and closely related species that vary in their genetic diversity, we will use whole-genome DNA sequencing to identify genes that control this highly variable trait. This will allow us to determine how ecological and molecular processes interact to promote or constrain evolution under balancing selection. Finally, we will directly test the idea that interactions between potential mates can maintain diversity in this species by observing evolution in real time in experimental populations with different opportunities for mate choice.

解释生态重要性状的高遗传多样性是进化生物学的一个基本问题。即使在当地人群中，个体在基因水平上也存在巨大差异，我们不明白其中的原因。最近的研究表明，稀有物种作为维持许多物种遗传变异的关键因素具有优势，但我们对这一过程在野外如何实际展开知之甚少。为了解决这一差距，我们需要（1）了解生态和社会相互作用如何促进或削弱遗传多样性，（2）将生物体之间的这些相互作用直接与介导这些相互作用的性状背后的基因联系起来。该项目将把特立尼达孔雀鱼（Poecilia reticulata）的遗传多样性特征与塑造其进化的生态和社会相互作用以及塑造这种多样性的潜在基因联系起来。我们之前的研究表明，与捕食者和潜在配偶的相互作用都倾向于该物种的罕见颜色模式。为了确定哪个过程对促进多样性最有责任，我们将收集多个自然种群中的捕食风险和交配行为的数据，并将这些数据与颜色模式的基于遗传的多样性程度相关联。然后，利用遗传多样性不同的种群和密切相关的物种，我们将使用全基因组 DNA 测序来识别控制这种高度可变性状的基因。这将使我们能够确定生态和分子过程如何相互作用以促进或限制平衡选择下的进化。最后，我们将通过实时观察具有不同择偶机会的实验种群的进化，直接检验潜在配偶之间的相互作用可以维持该物种多样性的想法。

项目成果

Improved Reference Genome Uncovers Novel Sex-Linked Regions in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata).

• DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa187
• 发表时间: 2020-10-01
• 期刊: Genome biology and evolution
• 影响因子: 3.3
• 作者: Fraser BA;Whiting JR;Paris JR;Weadick CJ;Parsons PJ;Charlesworth D;Bergero R;Bemm F;Hoffmann M;Kottler VA;Liu C;Dreyer C;Weigel D
• 通讯作者: Weigel D