Evolution, Genetics and Development: The Origin of Adaptive Pigment Alleles in Beach Mice

提出的研究旨在了解自然界中负责适应的进化，遗传和发育过程。大多数老鼠都有深棕色的皮毛，而居住在佛罗里达海岸的沙滩老鼠则有浅色的皮毛，以适应它们在沙滩栖息地的伪装。通过田野调查、遗传杂交和现代分子生物学的结合，该项目将：(1)了解导致适应性颜色的遗传变异的起源，(2)阐明这些基因在发育过程中如何发挥作用以产生颜色变化，(3)对这些基因的单个和组合效应进行功能测试，以重建这些小鼠颜色差异的逐步进化。拟议的项目使用几种方法来研究适应性变化的最终和近似原因，为生物多样性的进化提供一个框架。项目的综合性为学生提供了理想的训练环境。此外，由于颜色和自然选择之间的关系是如此直接，因此提出的工作是适应的一个吸引人的例子。因此，有两个具体的外展目标。首先，将为高中教师设计一系列可教学单元，作为可下载的教案、幻灯片和随附材料，向学生传达基本的进化原理。第二，将与哈佛自然历史博物馆合作，为来访的学校团体制作一个简短的视频研讨会和自助游活动。本报告将重点介绍研究过程以及进化生物学的基本课程。

The proposed research aims to understand the evolutionary, genetic and developmental processes responsible for adaptation in nature. Whereas most mice have dark brown coats, beach mice that inhabit Florida's coastal shores have light coats as an adaptation for camouflage in their sandy habitat. Using a combination of fieldwork, genetic crosses and modern molecular biology, the proposed project will: (1) understand the origin of the genetic variants that cause adaptive coloration, (2) elucidate how these genes act during development to produce color variation, and (3) functionally test the individual and combined effects of these genes to reconstruct the step-by-step evolution of color differences in these mice.The proposed project uses several approaches to study the ultimate and proximate causes of adaptive change, providing a framework for the evolution of biological diversity. The project's integrative nature provides an ideal training environment for students. Moreover, because the relationship between color and natural selection are so straightforward, the proposed work is an appealing example of adaptation. As such, there are two specific outreach goals. First, a series of teachable units for high school teachers will be designed as downloadable lesson plans, slides and accompanying materials to convey basic evolutionary principles to students. Second, in conjunction with Harvard's Museum of Natural History, a short video seminar and self-tour activity will be produced for visiting school groups. This presentation will highlight both the research process as well as basic lessons in evolutionary biology.