CAREER: The domesticated pigeon as a model for avian genetics and diversity

对于控制物种内部和物种之间差异的基因突变的数量和类型，我们所知甚少。该项目利用350多个家鸽品种的多样性——其中许多品种在颜色、羽毛和骨骼特征上表现出惊人的多样性——来识别控制该物种变异的基因。不同鸽子品种之间的实验性杂交将用于确定控制有趣性状的基因的数量和染色体位置。此外，将对许多不同品种的基因组进行调查，以找到控制变异的特定突变。重要的是，鸽子品种之间的许多特征在野生鸟类和其他动物之间也有所不同；因此，从鸽子身上收集到的新见解将使我们对动物多样性有一个更好的总体理解。鸽子在生物学和医学上已经是一种重要的模式生物，这个项目将通过提供遗传分析的新工具，潜在地扩展其他研究项目。该项目的教育计划也将对当地、国家和全球产生影响。这个计划的核心是一个新的基于计算机的虚拟鸽子饲养员游戏，它将被安装在犹他州遗传科学学习中心非常成功的网站上。这些和其他新的教育材料将针对不同的社区和广泛的年龄范围，促进批判性思维和自主学习，该计划的关键组成部分将通过互联网提供给全世界数百万人。

Remarkably little is known about the number and types of genetic mutations that control differences within and among species. This project takes advantage of the diversity among the 350+ breeds of domestic pigeon - many of which show spectacular diversity in color, feather, and skeletal traits - to identify the genes that control variation in this species. Experimental crosses between dissimilar pigeon breeds will be used to determine the number and chromosome location of genes controlling interesting traits. Additionally, the genomes of many different breeds will be surveyed to find the specific mutations that control variation. Importantly, many of the traits that vary among pigeon breeds also vary among wild species of birds and other animals; thus, new insights gleaned from pigeons will yield a better general understanding of animal diversity.The pigeon is already an important model organism in biology and medicine, and this project will potentially expand other research programs by providing new tools for genetic analyses. The educational plan of this project will also have local, national, and global impacts. A centerpiece of this plan is a new computer-based virtual pigeon breeder game that will be installed on the Utah Genetic Science Learning Center's highly successful website. These and other new educational materials will be targeted at a diverse community and broad age range, promote critical thinking and self-directed learning, and key components of this plan will be accessible via the Internet to reach millions of people worldwide.