Rapid molecular evolution in adaptive genomics

适应性基因组学中的快速分子进化

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03477
• 负责人: Wilson, Paul
• 金额: $ 3.42万
• 依托单位: Trent University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=745947
• 关键词: Rapid; molecular; evolution; adaptive; genomics

Understanding the molecular evolution of rapid adaptation in natural populations is critical given the current pace of climate change. We are currently in a period of global warming that is having dramatic effects on species distributions worldwide. Geographic expansions of northern range boundaries are occurring for many species, while the range margins at their southern peripheral distribution are impacted by less suitable habitat and increased isolation resulting from anthropogenic activities and increased biotic stress. As a result of these range expansions, notable increases in hybridization are resulting from more secondary contact between previously isolated species, subspecies, and ecotypes. These distributional changes and interactions will have profound effects on biodiversity and ecological processes. Adaptive evolution under novel conditions can be facilitated by selection acting on standing genetic variation; de novo mutations; and/or introgression. Most genomic surveys of rapid evolution have focused on detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), with a recognition that other structural variants (SVs) and copy number variants (CNVs) may further facilitate adaptive potential. My research program examines genome-wide surveys of natural systems having undergone shifts in their environments to elucidate the relative roles of standing variation, de novo mutation and introgression on rapid evolution on two classes of variable coding sites: SNPs and a class of CNV, specifically gene associated microsatellites. SNPs are commonly surveyed in genomic studies of adaptation; however, genic microsatellites offer significantly different properties that support their role in adaptive evolution, specifically: higher rates of de novo mutation; signatures of selection; and the convergence of allele sizes potentially supporting parallel adaptations. These largely overlooked motifs may be important natural agents that may keep pace with contemporary climate change and range redistribution into novel environments. This research is important for government researchers, policy makers as well as industry to more fully understand the mitigation that will be required with significant range re-distribution of wildlife species and species-at-risk in the future, and not just the current "snapshot" of the environmental landscape. A comprehensive mapping of functionally adaptive genomic motifs will support the recognition of Designatable Units (DUs) under the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in supporting "at-risk" listing decisions under the Species-at-Risk Act (SARA). This will yield more effective management strategies to maintain the adaptive potential of natural populations given the increasing development of natural resource industries in Canada, and the current environmental situation where the climate has, and will continue, to change.

鉴于目前气候变化的速度，理解自然种群快速适应的分子进化至关重要。我们目前正处于全球变暖的时期，这对世界各地的物种分布产生了巨大的影响。许多物种正在进行北部范围边界的地理扩张，而其南缘分布的范围边缘则受到不太适合的栖息地以及人为活动和生物胁迫增加导致的隔离增加的影响。作为这些范围扩大的结果，杂交的显著增加是由于以前隔离的物种、亚种和生态型之间更多的二次接触。这些分布变化和相互作用将对生物多样性和生态过程产生深远影响。新条件下的适应性进化可以通过选择作用于现有的遗传变异、从头开始的突变和/或导入来促进。大多数快速进化的基因组研究都集中在单核苷酸多态(SNPs)的检测上，并认识到其他结构变体(SVS)和拷贝数变体(CNV)可能进一步促进适应潜力。我的研究项目对经历了环境变化的自然系统进行了全基因组调查，以阐明两类可变编码点上的站立变异、从头突变和导入在快速进化中的相对作用：SNPs和一类CNV，特别是基因相关的微卫星。SNP在适应的基因组研究中经常被研究；然而，基因微卫星提供了显著不同的特性，支持它们在适应进化中的作用，特别是：更高的从头突变率；选择的特征；以及潜在支持平行适应的等位基因大小的趋同。这些在很大程度上被忽视的主题可能是重要的自然因素，可能会跟上当代气候变化的步伐，并将重新分布范围扩大到新的环境。这项研究对于政府研究人员、政策制定者以及工业界更充分地了解未来野生动物物种和濒危物种的大范围重新分布所需的缓解措施，而不仅仅是当前的环境景观“快照”，具有重要意义。功能适应性基因组基序的全面图谱将有助于确认加拿大濒危野生动物状况委员会(COSEWIC)下的可指定单位(DU)，以支持根据《濒危物种法》(SARA)作出的“濒危”列名决定。鉴于加拿大自然资源产业的日益发展，以及气候已经并将继续发生变化的当前环境状况，这将产生更有效的管理战略，以保持自然人口的适应潜力。