RUI: Characterization of coevolution, adaptation, and diversification in a model microbial mutualism

老虎的爪子和它的猎物的伪装是适应的例子，每个物种在一个被称为共同进化的过程中应对另一个物种的挑战。 虽然这种拮抗剂的共同进化已被广泛研究，但较少的研究集中在物种之间的互利（互惠）相互作用。在这项研究中，互惠互动的共同进化，从它的起源，通过2000代的进化在实验室将进行研究。 在22个社区的微生物物种脱硫弧菌和甲烷球菌maripaludis的共同进化的特点是配对每一个互惠与它的过去和未来的进化伙伴，与合作伙伴从独立进化的互惠，并通过比较非互惠控制。 将通过基因组测序鉴定共同进化和对照群体中的突变，以确定共同进化的分子特征。 这个项目将给本科生的经验规划，执行和分析原始的研究。 它还将在位于博瑟尔的华盛顿大学的科学、技术、工程和数学新学院建立本科生研究文化。 研究结果将增加对甲烷生产的理解和控制，甲烷是一种温室气体和生物燃料。

The claws of a tiger and camouflage of its prey are examples of adaptations that each species acquired in response to challenges imposed by the other in a process called coevolution. While coevolution of such antagonists has been studied extensively, less research has focused on mutually beneficial (mutualist) interactions between species. In this research, the coevolution of a mutualistic interaction from its origin through 2000 generations of evolution in the laboratory will be studied. Coevolution in 22 communities of the microbial species Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Methanococcus maripaludis will be characterized by pairing each mutualist with its past and future evolutionary partners, with partners from independently-evolved mutualisms, and by comparison to non-mutualistic controls. Mutations in coevolved and control populations will be identified by genome sequencing to determine the molecular signatures of coevolution. This project will give undergraduates experience planning, performing, and analyzing original research. It will also establish a culture of undergraduate research in the new school of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at University of Washington, Bothell. The results will increase understanding and control of methane production, a greenhouse gas and biofuel.