NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2021: Elucidating genomic, transcriptomic, and phenotypic consequences of genetic rescue in wild populations

该行动资助了2021财年的NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金，即调查基因组，环境和表型之间相互作用的生命规则的综合研究。该研究金支持研究员的研究和培训，以创新的方式为生活规则领域做出贡献。该项目利用遗传信息来改善濒危物种的保护。支持濒危物种的一个常见策略是将个体从大种群迁移到小的近亲繁殖种群，称为“人类协助迁移”。这种交换减少了近亲繁殖，往往改善了接受人口的健康状况。然而，改善的确切原因知之甚少。米切尔的萨特蝴蝶（MSB）是一种极度濒危的蝴蝶，也是正在考虑人类协助迁移的许多物种之一。米切尔的萨梯曾经在美国有很大的范围，但现在仅限于密歇根州的一些小种群和密西西比的更大，但不连续的种群。该项目将确定潜在的遗传过程，改善后代的健康在接受人口（密歇根州），告知有关人口的选择辅助移民的决定。这种新的方法将广泛适用于保护其他濒危物种与断开的人口，否则可能面临灭绝。该研究员还将领导一个为期两天的研讨会，为本科生增加参与和纳入历史上在野外生物学中代表性不足的群体。工作坊的内容包括寻找和申请研究机会、实地技术训练和专业网络建设，以增强学生从事研究的信心。模型系统的研究表明，近亲繁殖的个体对压力更敏感，由于近亲繁殖而减少遗传变异的基因更容易在压力环境中表达不适应，导致适应性下降。 本项目调查协助移民的机制和程度，（1）通过对所有现存种群进行全基因组测序，量化MSB范围内的基因组变异和近交;（2）评估密歇根州、密西西比州和异交个体的临界温度最大值，从而将耐热性表型与基因组变异联系起来（1），和转录反应;和（3）定量密歇根、密西西比和异交个体在热应激期间的基因表达，以鉴定受近交-应激关系影响最大的基因和分子途径，以及那些可能通过异交挽救的基因和分子途径。该研究员将接受全基因组生物信息学方面的培训，在手稿准备方面接受指导，并将与保护管理人员建立合作关系。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2021, Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes. The fellowship supports research and training of the fellow that will contribute to the area of Rules of Life in innovative ways. This project leverages genetic information to improve the conservation of endangered species. A common strategy to support endangered species is moving individuals from large populations to small, inbred populations, known as “human-assisted migration”. This exchange reduces inbreeding, and often improves the health of recipient populations. However, the exact causes of improvement are poorly understood. Mitchell’s Satyr Butterfly (MSB) is a critically endangered butterfly, and one of many species for which human-assisted migration is being considered. Mitchell’s Satyr once had a large range in the US, but is now restricted to a few small populations Michigan and larger, but disconnected populations in Mississippi. This project will identify the underlying genetic processes that improve offspring health in recipient populations (Michigan) to inform decisions about the choice of populations for assisted-migration. This novel approach will be broadly applicable to conserving other endangered species with disconnected populations that might otherwise face extinction. The fellow will also lead a two-day workshop for undergraduates to increase involvement and inclusion of groups historically underrepresented in field biology. The workshop includes finding and applying to research opportunities, hands-on training in field techniques, and professional network building to increase the students’ confidence in pursuing research.Research in model systems suggests that inbred individuals are more sensitive to stress, and that genes with reduced genetic variation due to inbreeding are more likely to be expressed mal-adaptively in stressful environments, leading to decreased fitness. This project investigates the mechanism and extent by which assisted migration (gene flow) mitigates this inbreeding-stress relationship in wild populations by (1) Quantifying genomic variation and inbreeding across the range of MSB through whole-genome sequencing of all extant populations; (2) Assessing critical-thermal maxima in Michigan, Mississippi, and outcrossed individuals, thus linking heat-tolerance phenotype to genomic variation (1), and transcriptional response; and (3) Quantifying gene expression during heat stress in Michigan, Mississippi and outcrossed individuals to identify the genes and molecular pathways most impacted by the inbreeding-stress relationship, and those potentially rescued by outcrossing. The fellow will receive training in whole-genome bioinformatics, receive mentorship in manuscript preparation, and will build collaborative relationships with conservation managers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.