Assessing the impact of mate choice on genetic architecture and testing the "good genes" model

在包括人类在内的许多生物中，一种或两种性别都能够在潜在的配偶中进行选择。配偶的选择通常是基于特定的特征，而这些特征在被选择的个体中往往被夸大。这种择优交配预计会在择优基因和择优性状基因之间产生关联。随着时间的推移，对首选性状的持续选择也有望减少其遗传变异性。PIs Roff和Fairbairn发展了一种理论，预测了偏好和偏好性状之间的遗传联系的强度，并解释了偏好性状的遗传变异如何在这种交配系统中得以维持。为了验证这一理论，pi将在实验室进化的十代沙蟋蟀中测量雌性偏好和雄性鸣叫参数的遗传差异。蟋蟀是这些研究的优秀对象，因为雌性根据叫声特征选择雄性，这在实验室里很容易量化。关键的测试将是在种群之间进行比较，其中雌性(i)根据自己的偏好交配，（ii）与随机选择的雄性交配，或（iii）与不喜欢的雄性交配。这些比较也将用于验证这样一个假设，即雄性鸣声是雄性基因质量的可靠信号，因此雌性可以选择拥有“好”基因的雄性。这项研究测试了配偶选择进化的基本理论，并在揭示夸大性表现特征的遗传基础方面开辟了新的领域。此外，pi将使用他们的实验，配偶选择协议作为说明性选择和适应进化概念的指导工具。他们将与当地高中教师合作，利用这笔赠款提供的资源和材料，开发教育模块，并参与将这些模块转移到当地教室。数据管理本项目将产生两种类型的数据，测量形式的信息数据和保存标本形式的实物数据。当研究结果发表后，前几种数据将通过提交给Dryad储存库（datadryad.org）提供给一般科学界。保存下来的标本将留作将来分析之用。

In many organisms, humans included, one or both genders are able to exercise choice among potential mates. Mates are typically chosen based upon particular traits and these are often exaggerated in the chosen individuals. Such preferential mating is expected to generate an association between the genes underlying the preference and the genes underlying the preferred trait. Over time, continued selection on the preferred trait is also expected to reduce its genetic variability. PIs Roff and Fairbairn develop theory that predicts the strength of the genetic association between the preference and the preferred trait and explains how genetic variation in the preferred trait may be maintained within such mating systems. To test this theory the PIs will measure the genetic variances of female preferences and male calling song parameters in sand crickets over ten generations of laboratory evolution. Crickets are excellent subjects these studies because females choose males based on song characteristics that can be readily quantified in the laboratory. The key test will be comparisons among populations in which females mate (i) according to their preferences, (ii) with randomly selected males, or (iii) with non-preferred males. These comparisons will also be used to test the hypothesis that male song is a reliable signal of male genetic quality and hence enables females to choose males that have "good" genes. This research tests fundamental theory for the evolution of mate choice and breaks new ground in revealing the genetic underpinnings of exaggerated sexual display traits. In addition, the PIs will use their experimental, mate choice protocol as an instructional tool for illustrating the concepts of sexual selection and adaptive evolution. In collaboration with local high school teachers and using resources and materials provided by this grant, they will develop educational modules and participate in transferring these to local classrooms. DATA MANAGEMENTThis project will generate two types of data, informational data in the form of measurements and object data in the form of preserved specimens. The former types of data will be made available to the general scientific community by submission to the Dryad repository (datadryad.org) as the results of the research become published. The preserved specimens will be retained for future analysis.