Non-genetic paternal effects on offspring reproduction and health: mechanisms and evolutionary consequences in a bird model

越来越多的证据表明，父亲的疾病可以通过非基因方式转移给下一代，影响后代的发育、表现和健康。迄今为止，这种父系条件转移效应的潜在机制仍然知之甚少，其进化后果在很大程度上未被探索。在本项目中，您将使用鸟类模型系统（日本鹌鹑，Coturnix japonica），其中父系条件转移对后代繁殖性能的影响已经被证明，使用高度多学科和综合的方法来确定非遗传父系影响的起源，功能和进化后果。使用体内实验，结合最先进的组学和生理学技术，您将测试男性在早期生活中所经历的有利或恶劣的条件如何影响他们的精子和精液成分，以及男性射精的不同成分如何对女儿的生殖表现和健康产生跨代影响。体内实验和分子工作将辅以进化模型，以量化父亲条件转移效应在改变选择反应中的作用，以及通过父亲效应改变选择下生殖特征进化轨迹的实验干预的潜力。该项目将为跨代父系条件转移效应的潜在机制以及早期生命干预改变进化轨迹的潜力提供基本的新见解，这两者都与动物健康和性能的管理以及我们对鸟类繁殖生活的理解直接相关。在项目期间，你将获得跨学科的培训，学习各种最先进的方法和技术，这些方法和技术受到学术界内外雇主的高度追捧，包括体内实验技能、分子技术、生物信息学和数学建模。您将在一个蓬勃发展，友好和包容的部门工作，并受益于一个高度多学科的管理团队的互补专业知识。相关论文：Pick et al . (2019) doi: 10.1002/evl3.125Immler (2018) doi: 10.1038/s41437-018-0111-0Gawehns et al . (2022) doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.1359

Evidence is accumulating that a father's condition can be transferred non-genetically to the next generation and affect offspring development, performance and health. To date, the mechanisms underlying such paternal condition transfer effects remain poorly understood and their evolutionary consequences are largely unexplored.In this project you will use a bird model system (Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica), in which paternal condition-transfer effects on offspring reproductive performance have previously been demonstrated, to identify the origin, function and evolutionary consequences of non-genetic paternal effects using a highly multidisciplinary and integrative approach. Using in vivo experiments, combined with state-of-the-art - omics and physiological techniques, you will test how favourable or harsh early life conditions experienced by males affect their sperm and seminal fluid composition, and how different components of the male's ejaculate mediate cross-generational effects on the daughters' reproductive performance and health.Experimental in vivo and molecular work will be complemented by evolutionary modelling to quantify the role of paternal condition-transfer effects in altering the response to selection, as well as the potential of experimental interventions to modify evolutionary trajectories of reproductive traits under selection through paternal effects. The project will provide fundamental novel insights into the mechanisms underlying paternal condition-transfer effects across generations and the potential of early life interventions to alter evolutionary trajectories, both directly relevant to the management of animal health and performance as well as our understanding of the reproductive lives of birds.During the project you will obtain interdisciplinary training in a variety of state-of-the-art approaches and techniques that are highly sought-after by employers in and outside of academia, including experimental in vivo skills, molecular techniques, bioinformatics, and mathematical modelling. You will be based in a thriving, friendly and inclusive department and benefit from the complementary expertise of a highly multidisciplinary supervisory team.Relevant papers:Pick et al (2019) doi: 10.1002/evl3.125Immler (2018) doi: 10.1038/s41437-018-0111-0Gawehns et al (2022) doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.1359