The genetics of reproductive isolation in north Atlantic sea urchins

北大西洋海胆生殖隔离的遗传学

基本信息

批准号：
RGPIN-2019-04702
负责人：
Addison, Jason
金额：
$ 2.04万
依托单位：
University of New Brunswick
依托单位国家：
加拿大
项目类别：
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
财政年份：
2019
资助国家：
加拿大
起止时间：
2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=682868
关键词：
genetics reproductive isolation north Atlantic

项目摘要

The origin of new species remains the central and most elusive question in evolutionary biology. In marine environments, the problem of genetic divergence and speciation is especially complex, because the barriers to genetic exchange that are generally essential for allowing divergence to occur are far more subtle than in terrestrial systems. Both divergent selection along ecological boundaries, and the evolution of gamete incompatibilities to prevent hybridization (i.e., reinforcement) are expected to play key roles in the process of speciation in the sea, but exactly how these forces counteract the homogenizing effects of gene flow has long been debated. My research uses next generation sequencing techniques to investigate species divergence at the level of the genome. I focus on the genetics interactions between three closely related species of broadcast spawning sea urchins in the northwest Atlantic, where populations overlap and hybridization occurs. The formation of hybrids provides an opportunity to examine the role of selection in the process of speciation, because the fate of individuals with mixed ancestry can be traced as they move and from one ecological setting to another. Using both laboratory and field studies my students and I will (i) determine how many different genes are involved in the evolution of reproductive isolation, (ii) assess the role of adaptation to different habitats as a mechanism of reproductive isolation, and (iii) better understand the role of reinforcement at gamete recognition molecules that may have evolved to prevent hybridization from occurring. The experiments outlined in this proposal will extend our knowledge of the factors driving reproductive isolation at the population level, and contribute to a general understanding of the relative importance that the opposing forces of diversifying selection, gene flow and genetic drift play in the process of speciation.*****

在进化生物学中，新物种的起源仍然是核心，最难以捉摸的问题。在海洋环境中，遗传差异和物种形成的问题尤其复杂，因为遗传交换的障碍通常对于允许出现差异至关重要的障碍比在陆地系统中更加微妙。期望沿生态边界的不同选择，以及配子不兼容以防止杂交（即增强）在海中的物种形成过程中起关键作用，但是这些力量如何抵消基因流的均质化作用的均质，持续了辩论。我的研究使用下一代测序技术来研究基因组水平的物种差异。我专注于在西北大西洋的三种密切相关的广播产卵海胆物种之间的遗传学相互作用，在那里人口重叠和杂交。混合动力的形成提供了一个机会，可以检查选择在物种形成过程中的作用，因为随着他们的移动以及从一个生态环境到另一个生态环境，可以追溯到混合血统的命运。使用实验室和现场研究，我和我的学生将（i）确定在生殖隔离的演化中涉及多少不同的基因，（ii）评估对不同栖息地的适应性作为生殖隔离的机制，（iii）更好地了解强化在游戏中识别分子的作用，这些识别分子可能会进化，以防止潮汐发生。该提案中概述的实验将扩展我们对在人群水平上推动生殖隔离的因素的了解，并有助于对相对重要性的一般理解，即相对的选择，即在物种形成过程中的多元化选择，基因流动和遗传漂移效果。*************************************************************************************************************************************************************单