Molecular and Functional Basis of Agouti Camouflage in Peromyscus Populations

拟议的研究将确定负责在鹿鼠（Peromyscus属）自然种群中产生伪装颜色的精确DNA突变。在内布拉斯加州的沙丘上，与生活在邻近的非沙质栖息地的老鼠相比，Peromyscus maniculatus的背部颜色更浅，这是一种对伪装的适应。Agouti蛋白表达的变化对这种颜色变化很重要。该项目将(1)检查在沙丘收集的小鼠的颜色变化，(2)测序Agouti位点的DNA变化，(3)进行统计分析以确定功能重要的DNA突变。最终，这些突变将在其他浅色种群中进行筛选，以确定浅色是否是由独立种群中相同的遗传变化产生的。该项目将识别有助于自然界生物体生存的DNA变化，目的是了解生物体如何适应其环境。本研究还将生态学、进化生物学与现代分子生物学、遗传学相结合，为本科生、研究生和博士后提供跨学科的培养机会。此外，一系列研讨会和课堂演讲的发展将使6-12年级低收入家庭的学生能够接触到进化生物学的科学和基本概念。

The proposed research will identify the precise DNA mutations responsible for producing camouflaged coloration in natural populations of deer mice (genus Peromyscus). In the Sand Hills of Nebraska, Peromyscus maniculatus have a lighter dorsal color than mice living in adjacent non-sandy habitats as an adaptation for camouflage. Changes in the expression of the Agouti protein are important for this color variation. This project will (1) examine color variation in mice collected across the Sand Hills, (2) sequence DNA variation at the Agouti locus, and (3) conduct statistical analyses to identify functionally important DNA mutations. Ultimately, these mutations will be screened in other light colored populations to determine if light color is produced by the same genetic changes in independent populations. This project will identify the DNA changes contributing to the survival of organisms in nature, with the goal of understanding how organisms adapt to their environment. This research will also integrate ecology and evolutionary biology with modern molecular biology and genetics to provide interdisciplinary training opportunities to undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students. In addition, development of a series of workshop and classroom presentations will make science and fundamental concepts in evolutionary biology accessible to students from low-income families in grades 6-12.