Identity and Characterization of Genes Fundamental in Speciation

基因组技术使了解许多不同基因在物种形成过程中的作用成为可能。通过利用对模式生物的全基因组研究计划，研究人员可以对其他物种进行有针对性的研究，从而发现关键进化过程的基因足迹。他们将使用新出现的海胆基因组数据来阐明在快速物种形成过程中发挥作用的分子进化的模式和过程。他们将通过1)对热带海胆Echinmetra obonga睾丸的cdna文库进行测序，并与近缘物种紫球棘球藻(Strongyloctrotus Puratus)进行比较；2)比较两个亚种紫球海胆在形态上不同的精子中的蛋白质：以及3)从紫海胆基因组文库中筛选出与生殖成功有关的基因，并对其进行测序。基因组学的力量是发现许多基因。比较方法的力量是通过精心挑选的不同物种的例子来阐明基因的功能和进化。这项研究应用了这两种方法来了解在一个非常了解受精的系统中与生殖成功有关的基因。海胆受精的经典知识，强大的新进化模型，以及基因组学的蓬勃发展，将为功能和进化生物学提供快速发展。

Genomic technology makes it possible to understand the role of many different genes in the process of species formation. By taking advantage of genome-wide research programs on model organisms, the investigators can conduct targeted studies on additional species, thereby discovering the genetic footprints of key evolutionary processes. They will use emerging genomic data on sea urchins to elucidate patterns and processes of molecular evolution acting during rapid species formation. They will target genes involved in reproductive success by 1) sequencing cDNA libraries from testes of the tropic urchin Echinometra oblonga, and comparing to the related species Strongylocentrotus purpuratus; 2) comparing proteins from the morphologically divergent sperm of two E. oblonga sub-species: and 3) screen a genomic library from S. purpuratus to find and sequence the chromosomal region surrounding the bindin gene, known to be central to reproductive isolation.The power of genomics is the discovery of many genes. The power of the comparative method is the elucidation of gene function and evolution through well-chosen examples of divergent species. This study applies both approaches to understanding the genes involved in reproductive success in a system in which fertilization is extremely well understood. The combination of classic knowledge about sea urchin fertilization, powerful new evolutionary models, and the burgeoning of genomics will provide rapid advances in functional and evolutionary biology.