EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS OF MALE REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN MUS

描述(申请人提供)：进化遗传学的一个主要目标是将物种内和物种之间的遗传型和表型变异联系起来，以更好地了解分子变异的功能后果，并最终了解影响适合度的性状的遗传基础。哺乳动物的几个雄性生殖特征可能对健康起到关键作用。最近在各种物种中的研究表明，与男性生殖有关的基因往往是自然选择的目标。这项研究的三个主要目的是：1)检验与家鼠雄性生殖有关的基因受到物种内和物种间正向自然选择的假设。候选基因座的差异率将在四个密切相关的小鼠谱系和家鼠之间进行调查。将对从其原生范围内采集的20只野生家蝇样本进行多态研究；2)利用这些相同的20只家蝇雄鼠，记录自然发生的精子竞争能力的表型变异。雄性将与共同的雄性基因型竞争受精；3)将精子竞争能力的表型变异与在候选基因座观察到的基因变异联系起来。这些研究将有助于揭示家鼠自然种群中雄性生殖健康的遗传基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A major goal in evolutionary genetics is to connect genotypic and phenotypic variation both within and between species to better understand the functional consequences of molecular variation, and ultimately the genetic basis of traits that affect fitness. Several male reproductive traits in mammals are likely to play a key role in fitness. Recent work in a variety of species has shown that genes involved in male reproduction are often targets of natural selection. The three main objectives of this study are to: 1) Test the hypothesis that genes involved in male reproduction in house mice are subject to positive natural selection, both within and between species. Rates of divergence in candidate loci will be investigated among four closely related Mus lineages and Rattus rattus. Polymorphism will be investigated in a sample of 20 wild-derived M. domesticus sampled from its native range; 2) Document naturally occurring phenotypic variation in sperm competitive ability using these same 20 M. domesticus males. Males will compete against a common male genotype for fertilizations; 3) Connect phenotypic variation in sperm competitive ability to genotypic variation observed in candidate loci. These studies will help uncover the genetic basis of male reproductive fitness in a natural population of house mice.