Environmentally Induced Non-genetic Effects on Ageing and Fitness over Multi-generations and the Evolution of Life-history Trade-offs

该项目将研究生长、寿命和繁殖力之间的权衡，并通过采用短寿命鱼模型和尖端的统计和计算模型来测试以下三个预测。首先，不同的饮食条件不仅会影响有机体的适应性，还会影响后代的适应性。其次，不同的营养效应和跨代效应对健康相关性状的影响是由表观遗传（或非遗传）修饰支撑的。第三，这种表观遗传修饰及其遗传影响了生命史权衡的进化。本项目将把新兴的表观遗传学与进化理论结合起来，揭示表观遗传的跨代遗传机制。

This project will study trade-offs among growth, lifespan and fecundity, and test the following three predictions by employing a short-lived fish model and cutting-edge statistical and computational modelling. First, different dietary conditions not only affect the fitness of the organism, but also that of subsequent generations. Second, different nutritional effects and transgenerational effects on fitness-related traits are underpinned by epigenetic (or non-genetic) modifications. Third, such epigenetic modifications and their inheritance influence the evolution of life-history trade-offs. This project will link the emerging field of epigenetics with evolutionary theory, and reveal mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.