Research Starter Grant-Distribution of Genetic Variation in a Recently Derived Adaptive Trait

研究启动资助——最近衍生的适应性特征中遗传变异的分布

• 批准号: 0332093
• 负责人: Robb Brumfield
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: Louisiana State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-07-01 至 2005-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0332093&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Research; Starter; Grant; Distribution; Genetic

The development of new biotechnologies such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and automated DNA sequencing have greatly facilitated the ability of basic researchers to study genetic variation. New genetic markers of potentially great relevance to biologists are known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). To put them to the test, Robb Brumfield, in his NSF Research Starter Grant, proposes to use SNPs (pronounced "snips") to understand the evolutionary history of a group of brilliantly plumaged birds known as manakins that inhabit the rainforests of the New World Tropics. Previous studies of these birds have found that hybridization and sexual selection have both played important roles in their speciation. SNPs should provide the needed resolution to determine which process has played the more important role.Brumfield's results will provide insights into the evolution of secondary sexual traits (i.e. traits that evolve because females prefer them but which are not necessarily in the best interest of the male for survival; a male peacock's tail is a good example). Because secondary sexual traits could evolve directly by female's desiring those traits or indirectly through hybridization with a closely related species that has a desirable trait, disentangling the relative importance of those processes is critical for a detailed understanding of their evolution. Brumfield's results should also help other biologists determine whether SNPs represent the best type of genetic marker for their own evolutionary studies of natural populations.

新生物技术的发展，例如聚合酶链反应（PCR）和自动DNA测序，极大地促进了基础研究人员研究遗传变异的能力。 潜在与生物学家相关的新遗传标记被称为单核苷酸多态性（SNP）。 为了对其进行测试，罗布·布鲁菲尔德（Robb Brumfield）在他的NSF Research Starter Grant中建议使用SNP（发音为“ Snips”）来理解一群鲜艳的鸟类的进化历史，称为Manakins，居住在新世界热带的雨林中。 对这些鸟类的先前研究发现，杂交和性选择都在其物种形成中起着重要作用。 SNP应提供所需的解决方案，以确定哪个过程扮演着更重要的角色。Brumfield的结果将为次要性特征的演变提供见解（即发展的特征是因为女性更喜欢它们，但不一定符合男性的最大利益；男性孔雀的尾巴是一个很好的例子）。 因为次要性特征可以通过女性渴望这些特征或通过与具有理想特征的紧密相关物种的杂交来直接发展，或者间接地发展，因此可以阐明这些过程的相对重要性对于对其进化的详细理解至关重要。 Brumfield的结果还应帮助其他生物学家确定SNP是否代表了自然种群进化研究的最佳遗传标记类型。