Sperm, speciation and gene drives in evolution

生物世界的两个基本特征在日常生活中似乎是看不见的：进化变化和我们基因组的DNA。但在实验室里，像优雅的线虫这样快速发育的动物让我们在短短几周内观察到了几十代人的真正进化。此外，过去十年的基因组生物技术革命让我们能够了解个体和物种之间差异的根本原因，因此我们可以捕捉到进化的完整基因快照。当我们将实验进化和基因组测序结合在一起时，发生的是生物电影：通过随着时间的推移收集基因组信息，我们记录了一部基因组电影。本研究旨在为线虫记录和分析进化基因组变化的电影，以测试和了解1)新的CRISPR/Cas9基因驱动用于基因工程生物防治的生物技术的动态，以及2)保持基因库分离的物种间不相容的基因组原因。同时，我们进行实验，以了解一种特殊的细胞类型--精子细胞的快速进化，我们发现这种细胞会导致物种之间的生殖障碍。通过将全基因组分析与进化实验和机制研究相结合，这项研究使生物世界的抽象基础变得有形，以帮助解释生物多样性的起源和维持。*1.基因驱动进化：新的CRISPR/Cas9基因驱动生物技术提供了一种创新的手段，通过对害虫物种的种群进行生物控制来对抗它们，以阻止环境退化和改善公众健康。但是，将基因驱动释放到自然中会带来严重的伦理、实践和环境问题。这项研究将使用线虫作为理想的低风险模型，在现实的实验室环境中测试关于基因驱动跨越数十代人的预测。这种对进化的实时研究对于制定基于证据的政策和程序至关重要。*2.物种形成基因组学：是什么基因组变化将一组个体与另一组个体分开，以创造和维持生物多样性？我们使用一种实验性的进化基因组学方法，杂交了两种关系密切的线虫蛔虫物种。然后，我们使用进化基因组电影来研究那些分化的基因，并测试它们如何扰乱杂交后代的遗传网络和发育程序，导致性腺和胚胎缺陷，同时促进纯物种的正常功能。*3.精子进化：我们发现了一种有趣的新方法，遗传系统可以进化出不匹配的基因：精子细胞迁移到体腔，导致女性不育和死亡。我们正在利用这个方便的细胞微观世界来探索进化细胞生物学，使用高性能显微镜和基因编辑来了解塑造配子等基本细胞的形态和行为的一般进化过程。

Two of the fundamental features of the living world are seemingly invisible in everyday experience: evolutionary change and the DNA of our genomes. But in the lab, rapidly developing animals like the elegant roundworm' C. elegans let us observe real evolution across scores of generations in just weeks. Moreover, the genomic biotechnology revolution of the past decade lets us access root causes of differences between individuals and species, so we can capture a complete genetic snapshot of evolution. What happens when we combine experimental evolution with genome sequencing is biological cinematography: by collecting genomic information over time, we record a genomic movie'. This research aims to record and analyze movies of evolutionary genomic change for C. elegans to test and understand 1) dynamics of new CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive' biotechnology for genetic engineering biocontrol and 2) genomic causes of incompatibility between species that keeps gene pools separate. In parallel, 3) we conduct experiments to understand rapid evolution of a special cell type, sperm cells, that we discovered to cause reproductive barriers between species. By integrating whole-genome analysis with evolution experiments and mechanistic studies, this research makes tangible the abstract foundations of the living world to help explain the origins and maintenance of biodiversity.******1. Gene Drive Evolution: New CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive biotech provides an innovative means to fight pest species by engineering their populations for biocontrol, to thwart environmental degradation and improve public health. But release of gene drives into nature presents serious ethical, practical, and environmental concerns. This research will test predictions about gene drive spread across dozens of generations in realistic lab circumstances using C. elegans as an ideal and low-risk model. This real-time study of evolution is crucial to developing evidence-based policy and procedures.***2. Speciation Genomics: What genomic changes keep one group of individuals separate from another to create and maintain biodiversity? We use an experimental evolutionary genomics approach, hybridizing two closely-related nematode roundworm species. We then use evolutionary genomic movie-making' to home in on genes that diverged and test how they disrupt genetic networks and developmental programs in hybrids to cause gonad and embryonic defects, yet facilitate proper function within pure species.***3. Sperm Evolution: We discovered a fascinating new way that genetic systems can evolve mismatches: sperm cell migration into the body cavity that causes female sterility and death. We are using this convenient cellular microcosm to explore evolutionary cell biology using high-powered microscopy and genetic editing to understand the general evolutionary processes that shape the morphology and behavior of such fundamental cells as gametes.