The genomic and ecological context of a major gene under selection in natural populations

新一代技术可能使研究人员能够揭示自然种群中特定性状的遗传基础。这些知识可以用来详细了解种群如何进化和对环境变化的遗传反应。这个项目将研究一个戏剧性的例子，一个特定的性状，狗的黑色毛色，这已经转移到灰狼（家犬的祖先）在北美独特。这是第一个在驯化下出现的基因突变的例子，并且在自然界中广泛成功。该项目将应用新的分子和分析技术，将详细的分子数据与毛色变异和生态学的详细数据相结合，以了解这种突变在自然界中是如何以及为什么如此成功的。这项研究的结果将提供一个详细的遗传理解的进化力量负责导致黑色突变席卷北美狼种群。这些结果支持发展更一般的模型选择如何作用于重要的生物体生存和性能的特征，并在预测如何人口可以遗传环境变化的反应是有用的。该项目将为学生和博士后科学家提供跨学科和定量培训，提供具有广泛应用的新工具和模型，并通过与博物馆项目合作和开发互动网站向公众提供信息。

A new generation of technology potentially allows researchers to uncover the genetic basis of specific traits in natural populations. This knowledge can be applied to understand in detail how populations evolve and respond genetically to environmental changes. This project will study a dramatic example of a specific trait, black coat color in dogs, which has been transferred to gray wolves (the ancestor of domestic dogs) uniquely in North America. This is the first example of a genetic mutation that appeared under domestication and has been widely successful in nature. The project will apply novel molecular and analytical techniques to integrate detailed molecular data with detailed data on coat color variation and ecology to understand how and why this mutation has been so successful in nature. The results of this study will provide a detailed genetic understanding of the evolutionary forces responsible for causing the black mutation to sweep through North American wolf populations. These results support development of more general models of how selection acts on traits important to organismal survival and performance and are useful in predicting how populations can respond genetically to environmental change. The project will provide interdisciplinary and quantitative training for students and post-doctoral scientists, novel tools and models with broad applications, and information to the public through collaboration with museum programs and development of an interactive website.