The Influence of Effective Population Size on the Strength of Selection Imposed by Mate Choice

在过去20年的进化遗传学中，最有趣的发现之一是一些生殖基因的快速进化。具有如此关键作用的基因会随着时间的推移在功能上出现分歧，这似乎是自相矛盾的。由于个体不断地为繁殖成功而奋斗，配偶选择所施加的选择可能会导致这种功能上的分歧。本研究项目以约10种不同交配制度和种群规模的小鼠为对象，为预测和测试生殖选择的强度和方向提供了一个独特的机会。通过高通量测序和严格的计算方法，将研究从这些物种的约150个个体中收集的约1000个生殖基因的进化。这项工作将极大地促进我们对物种内部和物种之间调节遗传变异的力量的理解。为了扩大我们研究的影响，我们邀请了西亚当斯高中的学生，这是一所洛杉矶市中心的高中，有着典型的内城故事。近30%的学生在毕业前辍学，超过50%的学生第一年生物不及格。然而，教师们渴望将替代策略引入课堂。他们的几个学生已经在这个研究项目的具体方面取得了“所有权”，并将成为最终出版物的共同作者。让高中生沉浸在我们研究的各个方面，将揭开科学过程的神秘面纱，并让他们接触到关于潜在职业道路的新想法。

One of the most intriguing discoveries of the past 20 years of evolutionary genetics is the rapid evolution of some reproductive genes. That genes with such critical roles should functionally diverge over time seems paradoxical. Selection imposed by mate choice may drive some of this functional divergence as individuals continually grapple for reproductive success. This research project focuses on ~10 mouse species that differ in mating system and population size, offering a unique opportunity to predict and test the strength and direction of reproductive selection. The evolution of ~1000 reproductive genes gathered from ~150 individuals across these species will be studied via high throughput sequencing and rigorous computational approaches. This work will significantly advance our understanding of the forces that moderate genetic variation within and between species. To broaden the impacts of our research, we have engaged students of West Adams, a downtown Los Angeles high school with a typical inner city story. Nearly 30% of students drop out before graduating and more than 50% failed first year biology. However, the teachers are eager to bring alternative strategies into the classroom. Several of their students have already taken "ownership" in specific aspects of this research project and will be co-authors on resulting publications. Immersing high school in all aspects of our research will demystify the scientific process and expose them to new ideas about potential career paths.