Molecular evolutionary genetics of bivalve mitochondrial DNA

双壳类线粒体DNA的分子进化遗传学

• 批准号: 217175-2008
• 负责人: Stewart, Donald
• 金额: $ 2.01万
• 依托单位: Acadia University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=497607
• 关键词: Molecular; evolutionary; genetics; bivalve; mitochondrial

I study an unusual system of mitochondrial DNA inheritance present in bivalve mollusks. Unlike other animals, some bivalves possess two distinct gender-associated mtDNA lineages rather than just a single, female transmitted mtDNA lineage found in most animals. I am interested in testing various hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the origin and maintenance of this unusual system of mitochondrial DNA inheritance including whether it allows for natural selection to improve sperm performance in these mussels or whether these gender-associated genomes might play a role in sex determination. The distinct male and female transmitted mtDNA genomes found in marine mussels also undergo recombination, a phenomenon that was, until recently, not thought to occur in animal mtDNA genomes. My approach to studying this unusual system of mitochondrial DNA inheritance includes a combination of sperm motility analyses, sperm metabolic activity assays, and whole mitochondrial genome sequencing assays.

我研究一个不寻常的线粒体DNA遗传系统存在于双壳类软体动物。与其他动物不同的是，一些双壳贝类拥有两种不同的性别相关的mtDNA谱系，而不是大多数动物中发现的单一的雌性传递的mtDNA谱系。我感兴趣的是测试已经提出的各种假设来解释这种不寻常的线粒体DNA遗传系统的起源和维持，包括它是否允许自然选择来改善这些贻贝中的精子性能，或者这些性别相关的基因组是否可能在性别决定中发挥作用。在海洋贻贝中发现的不同的雄性和雌性传递的mtDNA基因组也经历重组，直到最近，这种现象才被认为发生在动物mtDNA基因组中。我研究这种不寻常的线粒体DNA遗传系统的方法包括精子活力分析，精子代谢活性测定和全线粒体基因组测序测定的组合。