The Role of Epigenetics in the Generation of Evolutionarily Important Variation

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How does development help to determine the diversity of animal form we observe in nature? This research program will examine the role of physical interactions among developing parts of organisms in determining organisms' adult form. Shape-driven interactions between developing tissues and gene expression domains are thought to play a major role in making variation available for natural selection to act upon. This research program will use cutting-edge three dimensional imaging equipment to produce a detailed database of phenotypic and gene-expression information for the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. This fish has repeatedly undergone rapid evolutionary transitions from marine to freshwater environments, and these transitions involve major changes in body shape. This fish is an emerging model system in evolutionary developmental biology, and it offers a unique opportunity to ask targeted questions about the reciprocal relationship between development and evolution. This research will provide new knowledge about how the variation required for animals to adapt quickly to changing environments is generated by development. The database generated by this work will be of use to many other research groups as they seek to better understand evolutionary change. The knowledge generated here will help to inform future studies about the means by which organisms are adapting to rapidly changing environmental conditions, work which is key for conservation of global biodiversity.