DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Genetic Architecture and Evolution of Phenotypic Plasticity for Chemical Defenses in a Wild Plant

许多复杂的特征？那些由多个基因控制的？经常受到环境的影响，这种现象被称为表型可塑性。在许多情况下，基因和环境（即“自然”）的相对重要性后天培养？)还不清楚。此外，物种、种群和个体对各种环境线索的敏感性往往不同。理论研究表明，这种可塑性的遗传变异对复杂环境下复杂性状的进化具有深远的影响。然而，可塑性的适应价值和潜在的可塑性反应的基因都知之甚少，很大程度上是由于缺乏对这一主题的实证研究。硫代葡萄糖苷是一种重要的抗食虫化学物质，本项目将测量硫代葡萄糖苷在野生草本植物中可塑性的自然选择。将在四种自然生境和温室中多种控制条件下种植的多个品系中测量硫代葡萄糖苷和生殖适合度。然后，pi将绘制包含影响硫代葡萄糖苷含量对各种环境刺激反应的基因的基因组区域。的吗?先天vs后天？争论不仅是进化遗传学领域的基础，而且与当前农业、医学和生物多样性保护等应用领域的研究直接相关。部分可塑性复杂性状的例子包括作物抗虫害、人类对癌症等疾病的易感性以及野生动物的健康和行为。随着自然界适应快速变化的气候，了解可塑性的遗传结构和进化意义将变得尤为重要。将对学生进行培训。

Many complex traits?those controlled by multiple genes?are often influenced by the environment, a phenomenon called phenotypic plasticity. In many cases, the relative importance of genes and environment (i.e., ?nature? and ?nurture?) is unclear. Furthermore, species, populations, and individuals often differ in their sensitivity to various environmental cues. Theoretical work has shown that such genetic variation for plasticity should have profound implications for the evolution of complex traits in complex environments. However, both the adaptive value of plasticity and the genes underlying plastic responses are poorly understood, largely due to a lack of empirical research on the subject. This project will measure natural selection on plasticity of glucosinolates, an important chemical defense against insect herbivores, in a wild herb. Glucosinolates and reproductive fitness will be measured in multiple lineages planted in four natural habitats and a variety of controlled conditions in the greenhouse. The PIs will then map genomic regions containing genes that affect the response of glucosinolate content to various environmental stimuli.The ?nature vs. nurture? debate is not only fundamental to the field of evolutionary genetics, but also directly relevant to current research in applied fields such as agriculture, medicine, and biodiversity conservation. Examples of partially plastic complex traits include crop pest resistance, human susceptibility to diseases such as cancer, and wildlife health and behavior. Understanding the genetic architecture and the evolutionary significance of plasticity will be especially important as the natural world adapts to a rapidly changing climate. Training of students will occur.